Torre del Candeliere

Torre del Candeliere rises over Piazza Giacomo Matteotti in Massa Marittima. Erected in 1228 under the Pisan podestà Tedice Malabarba, the tower was reduced by Siena in 1335 and joined to the Cassero Senese by a large arch.

Why it matters

The tower reflects the political history of Massa Marittima. It was built as a watchtower and symbol of the commune, which had recently freed itself from the rule of the bishop-prince. When Siena took the town in 1335, it reduced the tower’s height and incorporated it into a new fortress.

What to notice

The clock on the eastern side was installed in 1443. A twenty-one-metre arch joins the tower to the Cassero Senese. A bell has hung in the tower since the early fifteenth century; the present bell was cast in 1760. From the upper levels, views extend over the town and the surrounding Maremma.

Context and history

The tower is rooted in the older castle of the bishops of Monteregio. After the Sienese takeover in 1335, it became part of the fortress, a project associated with Angiolo di Ventura and master Agostino di Giovanni. The tower opened to the public in 1985 and is now incorporated into the civic museum system as a monument-museum.