 |
| Picture of the Postcard from Ebay |
Built by Raniero Gatti in 1270, is one of the most beautiful towers in the territory of the city of Viterbo.
http://viterbo.artecitta.it/scheda.php?idOpera=82&Audio=
A more detailed description of the tower is as follows:
TOWER OF SAN BIELE
HISTORY
and DESCRIPTION
The tower
of San Biele, built in 1270 by Raniero Gatti, is one of the most beautiful
towers in Viterbo. Over the outer arch, surrounded by two coat of arms of the
Gatti family, there is an inscription explaining that it was built without
imposing new taxes on the city. “In nomine D(omi)ni n(ost)ri Iesu
Christi anno/ eiusd(em) MCCLXX ap(osto)lica sed(e) va/ cante XIII ind(ictione):
ad honorem et reve/ re(n)tiam S(ancte) Rom(ane) Ecc(lesi)a ma(t)ris n(ost)re
d(omi)n (u)s /Rain(erius) Gatt(us) novell(us) capit(aneus)P(o)p(u)li et
Co(mun)is /Vit(er)bii pacis amator et ius(ti) tie cultor/ ann(o) s(ecund)o sui
regim(in)is ha(n)c turrim he/ dificari et co(m)mpleri fecit absq(ue) gra/
vamine et collecta civitatis p(re)dicte”.
It was
originally called Tower of San Miele. However, the church to the left of
the tower was named for the holy warrior San Michele or “Saint Michael”, like
many churches in Tuscia. To avoid confusion, the tower’s name was
eventually changed to San Biele. The tower, also sometimes referred to as
Pietraia, is considered a masterpiece of the art of war. It is topped by
Guelph battlements, with a coat of arms on the front design. On the
bottom left corner, you can still see the coat of arms as you look at the tower
from the city. The tower is divided into two parts, intricately designed
to protect the city from the inside out. Two sunken, round-headed, arches
and a façade with a pointed arch surround the tower. The tower sits in
the lower section of the arches. The door inside the arches leads for a
length, and then ends at the pointed arch. The other opening aimed to leave the
tower defenseless if under siege. It allowed citizens to attack from
within the city, and also allowed for immediate armament by the City by means
of pulleys, without having to use the interior stairs. In a peace agreement
made in 1291, the Romans wished to demolish the tower and its fortress.
Although the fortress was eventually destroyed, the tower still stands. Today,
in place of the fortress, stands the little house of Ferruzi. In
1493, Brother Giovanni of the Towers also founded an oratory near the
tower. Perhaps this tower was part of a new section of the city walls to
be erected on that side, where it was most often attacked. Under the arch
you can see a slot for the gate and there until 1973, it was possible to see
the remains of a fresco of the Madonna Enthroned with Saints. On the
right is a portrayal of a woman praying, possibly Alessandra Alessandri, wife
of Raniero. She offers the protection for the Virgin and her child.
On the other side of the Madonna is Saint Antonio and the Baptist with the date
1611. What remains of the fresco is in the Civic Museum.
 |
| Viterbo is located in central Italy, 50 miles north of Rome |
Additional photos
