Torre dei Conti

The Torre dei Conti, also short gate de'Conti, is a medieval tower in Rome, near the Colosseum, 1203, under the pontificate of Innocent III. was built by Riccardo di Segni, for the family of Conti, Count of Segni.

The tower is one of the impressive towers, which, as in other Italian cities, the medieval Rome impressed. The mighty fortification stood on the border of the territory of rival family of the Frangipani

In the past he was also known as Torre Maggiore because of its size. Petrarch praised him as unique in Rome and the whole world. Originally needs to have its size from 50 to 60 meters, compared to the current 29 meters. It is located at Largo Corrado Ricci in the area of the Imperial Forum. The tower was built over one of the exedra of the portico of the Templum Pacis. He was clad in travertine, which was taken from the Imperial Forum. This panel has been removed in the 16th century and used for the construction of the Porta Pia on Via Nomentana that Pope Pius IV was built from designs by Michelangelo.

The building was damaged by various earthquakes. In particular, after that in 1348 the tower was uninhabitable and subsequently abandoned. During the 16th century there were several collapses. Only in 1620 it was restored, but in 1630 and 1644 again damaged by earthquakes. The Popes Urban VIII and Alexander VIII had him build up to the end of the 17th century and again reinforced with struts.

The construction of the Via Cavour end of the 19th century and the Via dei Fori Imperiali, under Benito Mussolini, the tower as an isolated building remained on the edge of the excavation areas of the forums.

41.89361111111112.48791666666730Koordinaten: 41 ° 53 ' 37 " N, 12 ° 29' 16.5 " E