Torre Caetani
Torre Caetani
4
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Neighborhood: Prima Porta
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
7 reviews
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Mairwen1
United Kingdom12,122 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
Caetani Tower is one of the sights on tiny Tiber Island. It’s right at the end of the Fabricius Bridge - a strategic position which ensured that the bridge was protected and access to the island was limited.
Towers like this were very common throughout Rome in the 12th century. These fortified compounds were the homes of wealthy and powerful families. They built towers like this partly to protect themselves, their families and their property and partly as status symbols.
Torre Caetani was built in the 12th century by the powerful Pierleoni family although it’s generally known as the Caetani Tower because the Caetani family took over it in the 14th century. By the 16th century, frequent floods made staying there untenable and the Caetani family abandoned it also.
By some estimates, there were maybe 900 towers in medieval times. Only a fraction remain.
If you have an interest in historic architecture, another medieval tower, Torre Grassi, is nearby in the Jewish Quarter.
Towers like this were very common throughout Rome in the 12th century. These fortified compounds were the homes of wealthy and powerful families. They built towers like this partly to protect themselves, their families and their property and partly as status symbols.
Torre Caetani was built in the 12th century by the powerful Pierleoni family although it’s generally known as the Caetani Tower because the Caetani family took over it in the 14th century. By the 16th century, frequent floods made staying there untenable and the Caetani family abandoned it also.
By some estimates, there were maybe 900 towers in medieval times. Only a fraction remain.
If you have an interest in historic architecture, another medieval tower, Torre Grassi, is nearby in the Jewish Quarter.
Written June 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mairwen1
United Kingdom12,122 contributions
Jun 2022
On its own, the Caetani Tower is only a minor sight and is just one of several historic features on Tiber Island. It is easily seen as you cross Fabricius Bridge onto the island.
Although the brick tower appears quite plain, it has one particular charm - the enigmatic marble head of a young women which is set into the tower’s wall. It’s quite curious. Who is she? Why is she trapped here forever on the tower wall? No-one really knows for sure, although naturally, there’s a good legend.
According to the story, she was a young noblewoman who refused to marry the man that her family had chosen for her and instead pined for the man that she truly loved who was away at war. Angered by her disobedience, her family locked her away inside the tower. Sadly, there’s no substance for the story and she remains a mystery.
Although the brick tower appears quite plain, it has one particular charm - the enigmatic marble head of a young women which is set into the tower’s wall. It’s quite curious. Who is she? Why is she trapped here forever on the tower wall? No-one really knows for sure, although naturally, there’s a good legend.
According to the story, she was a young noblewoman who refused to marry the man that her family had chosen for her and instead pined for the man that she truly loved who was away at war. Angered by her disobedience, her family locked her away inside the tower. Sadly, there’s no substance for the story and she remains a mystery.
Written February 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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