Bologna Rising

Postcard of Bologna, Italy from the early 20th century. Towers as status symbols for wealthy families.

Here's a forest of towers in the Italian town Bologna, from the early 20th century. These towers were built as extensions of private homes for wealthy families. Their exact purpose isn't quite clear, but most likely it was a combination of status symbols and as means of defense during uncertain times. The image is quite compelling, with the forest of needle-like towers poking out above the lower buildings of the town below. The town seems to foreshadow many cities of today, where the battle for access to light and air is not unlike the competition between trees in a forest; the taller the better, and to hell with the neighbors. Back in medieval times, however, the access to views was crucial for different reasons; these towers most likely provided safety for their residents during attacks, and gave great viewpoints to spot danger before it reached the town.

A View of Bologna at The Time of Dante by Francis S. Swales from 1931. A veritable forest announcing its presence to the surrounding landscape.

All the elements of verticality are here. These families needed to escape the surface of the earth and built towers to do so. The added height provided them with safety and access to light and air, as well as a status symbol among the townsfolk. The aggregate of all the towers also announced the presence and wealth of Bologna to the surrounding landscape, as if to say we're important and rich, look at all the towers we've built! Not many of the towers still exist today, but back in the day there was a veritable forest rising above the city walls.