Clock Tower

Attached to the Church of San Leonardo, this clock tower was built by the Sienese in what can essentially be described as a demonstration of flexing their muscles.

To be clear, Manciano was not particularly happy to be part of the Sienese dominion in the fifteenth century and organized a series of skirmishes to express his dissent.

The clock tower wasn’t exactly effective as a prison for locking up dissidents, but it was something the Sienese did in all the Maremma cities they governed.

They hoped that by building the necessary architecture they would not only show those pesky locals who was boss, but they would hopefully bribe them into accepting their rule.

But let’s go back to the tower. Surprisingly, not much has changed since the Sienese built it. Its stone block walls still rise far above the city skyline and are broken only in several small places. Above you can see the battlements that once housed the night watchman.

Today the clock tower continues to ring every hour and when there is a mass. And even though they’re no longer run by the local bellboy, the chimes still play an important part in daily life – there’s nothing better than waking up to the sound of bells!