Novelli Tower (Ascoli Piceno)

History of the Novelli Tower

Tradition calls it the tower of the "Novelli" or of the "Grisanti". Local history attributes it to the Grisanti family, who gave their name to the rua (street) near Porta Solestà, but the exact date of construction is not known. It is dated between the 12th and 13th centuries. The noble towers of Ascoli expressed the power of the families they belonged to and were also true military buildings. According to tradition, in 1242 Frederick II had ninety-one of them torn down.

The tower has been altered several times. Later the house on the left side was remodeled, where traces of the mullioned windows of the top floor remain. The wide arched windows of the facade date from later work. The part not included in the houses later became the property of the Comune of Ascoli Piceno. In 2009 the municipality decided to put its share up for sale.

What to see at the Novelli Tower

The tower rests on a spur of sandstone rock that emerges just below street level. The walls, very thick at the base, narrow as they rise. The two side walls have no openings, because they were flanked by the owners' houses.

The door visible on the facade leads into a barrel-vaulted room, isolated from the rest of the structure. The real entrance is at the back, incorporated into the neighboring buildings and therefore not visible. At the top there is a modern roof, and the projecting stones at the corners probably supported a wooden platform. On the back of the house to the right, bas-reliefs with hunting scenes are set into the wall.

How to visit the Novelli Tower

The first three floors are now part of the adjoining houses and the original entrance cannot be seen from the street. After the 2016 earthquake the tower was made safe. Before going, it is therefore wise to check the status of the works and the possibilities of access.

Where the Novelli Tower is

The tower is in the historic center of Ascoli Piceno, near the Ponte di Solestà and not far from the Ercolani Tower. The city center lies at an altitude of 154 m, where the Tronto meets the Castellano stream.

Around the Novelli Tower in Ascoli Piceno

In the same part of the city are Porta Solestà, the gateway in the walls with the tower behind it, and the Roman bridge over the Tronto. A short distance away stands the Torre degli Ercolani. Other stops in the historic center, built almost entirely of travertine and centered on Piazza del Popolo, are on the page about things to do in Ascoli Piceno.