The locals call the Civic Tower "Campanone". Built in the early decades of the 11th century, the tower was home to the Suardi noble family, one of the most powerful in the city.
In those turbulent times, in which the various factions in the city would do battle with weapons in the streets, it was not uncommon among wealthy families to build towers to live in, to guarantee their safety: the taller the tower, the greater the prestige it brought the family.
For this reason, Bergamo was known at the time as the city of a hundred towers. To give you an idea, try imagining a sort of medieval Manhattan!
The tower was purchased by the Municipal Council, raised to a height of 56 meters, and the bells were installed, including the large bell, or campanone from which the tower takes its local name.
