Pagliazza Tower
Location and Historical Significance Nestled in the charming piazza Sant’Elisabetta, the Torre della Pagliazza stands as Florence’s only remaining entirely intact circular tower. This ancient structure, dating back to between the sixth and seventh centuries, is the oldest in Florence to retain its original form.
A Journey Through Time The name “Torre della Pagliazza” references the straw mattresses used by women incarcerated in a female jail here during the twelfth century. Later, it served as the bell tower for the San Michele church. The tower underwent its first renovation in a Romanesque style by the Sisters of Sant’Ambrogio in 1100. In 1450, due to a 1390 ordinance mandating the residence of the Municipality’s trumpeters in the parish, the church was renamed San Michele delle Trombe.
In 1517, Pope Leo X rededicated the church to the Visitation, placing it under the care of the “Visitation” priests. A significant Baroque renovation took place in 1729. The parish was dissolved in 1785, and the structure was converted into a residential house. Most of the church’s artwork was either destroyed or dispersed, except for the “Visitation” framework, which remains preserved at the Uffizi Gallery. In the nineteenth century, the expansion of via de’ Calzaiuoli incorporated the church’s wall constructions into a large island, which also included remnants of another ancient church, Santa Maria Nudvisecosa.
Modern-Day Restoration and Museum In 1980, the National Insurance Institute embarked on a project to reconstruct the entire hotel complex, unearthing historical artifacts. Architect Italo Gamberini played a crucial role in removing the Torre della Pagliazza from the overlying superstructures, revealing the remnants of old Lombard walls. Subsequent investigations by the Superintendency led to the discovery of a Roman Terme Calidarium in the building’s basement.
Today, a museum within the current hotel showcases meticulously restored artifacts and an extensive photographic record. Among the museum’s treasures are pieces of majolica from the fourteenth century.
Explore the rich history and remarkable architecture of the Torre della Pagliazza, a testament to Florence’s enduring legacy.
