Civic Tower (Castel Goffredo)

The Civic Tower stands in the heart of Castel Goffredo, a town in the province of Mantua, Lombardy. It occupies Piazza Mazzini, the old political heart of the town, beside the Palazzo Gonzaga-Acerbi and the Palazzo della Ragione. Built in the 13th century as part of the first city walls, the tower enclosed the medieval village of Castelvecchio. Its base walls are 1.30 metres thick, and the public clock has marked time since 1438. The tower itself was raised in 1492, and a new belfry added with eight bells, some from the 16th century. The tower carries an Aloysian inscription from the 16th century that warns against pride in prosperity and cowardice in adversity. A marble coat of arms of the Gonzaga family is fixed above the archway that once held a gate. Inside, justice was administered from the 15th century, and a torture chamber was once located there. In 1925 the roof was removed and Ghibelline battlements were built along the top. The tower leans noticeably towards Piazza Mazzini, a tilt that has grown in recent decades. Static checks in 2006 confirmed the need for careful monitoring. Despite its lean, the tower remains a visible landmark and a reminder of the town’s medieval past. Visitors can still see the battlements, the archway, and the inscriptions that record the tower’s long history.