Torre del Borgo

Recanati's Torre del Borgo is a 36-metre civic tower whose origins are linked to the union of three hilltop castles around 1160. Since 2016 its seven levels have housed the MuRec, a museum tracing the city's history from its origins to the twentieth century.

Why it matters

The tower is one of Recanati's oldest civic symbols. Its construction marked the consolidation of the three castles into a single commune. The building now combines its medieval military character with the MuRec's account of Recanati and its notable citizens. Giacomo Leopardi also recalled the tower in his poem “Le ricordanze,” referring to the hour striking from the tower of the borgo.

What to notice

The façade facing the square has a stone clock dated 1562 and a bronze relief by Pier Paolo Jacometti depicting the Translation of the Holy House of Loreto. On the north side, a rampant lion is attributed to Jacopo Sansovino; on the east side are the coat of arms and plaque of Fermo, marking the cities' friendship. A war memorial plaque by Guido Cirilli dates to 1923. The tower's Ghibelline merlons rest on projecting corbels. Inside, the MuRec occupies seven levels and includes digitalised documents and photographs, as well as LIVEllo2, a contemporary art space curated by Nikla Cingolani.

Context and history

The upper part of the tower was restored in 1322 after a fire that also damaged the nearby Palazzo dei Priori. When the priors' building was rebuilt in 1467, the tower acquired a separate architectural identity. Demolition of the old town hall in 1872 and later changes to the square left it standing independently. The battlements belong to a later remodelling rather than the medieval structure. The Comune installed the MuRec in 2016, adapting the former stronghold to present the city's history and contemporary art.