The Tor Millina
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Description
When one thinks of the Middle Ages, a few images come to mind. Knights in shining armor and princesses, but also castles and towers. In Rome, there are a great many medieval towers. Among these is the Tor Millina, situated just west of the Piazza Navona. This particular tower was likely originally built sometime in the eleventh or twelfth century, but was remodeled into an adjoining mansion sometime around 1490. Today, it stands above the surrounding buildings alone. In the Middle Ages, however, this would not be the case. In the Middle Ages, towers were a part of larger building complexes and were merely a taller part of a cohesive whole. There would have additionally been many of these towered complexes in the area, such that any one tower would have been more or less on the same plane as many of the other towers, leading to a skyline made up significantly of large towers and other noble fortifications.
While we cannot speak with any certainty to the specific purpose of the Tor Millina, medieval towers were parts of houses that would have served several roles. One of the most important roles is a product of their elevation; towers allowed their owners to dominate the local area, with towers functioning as a means of control. Additionally, towers were defensive structures, providing a location of safety and shelter for the family that owned them, very much a luxury at the time.
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Description
When one thinks of the Middle Ages, a few images come to mind. Knights in shining armor and princesses, but also castles and towers. In Rome, there are a great many medieval towers. Among these is the Tor Millina, situated just west of the Piazza Navona. This particular tower was likely originally built sometime in the eleventh or twelfth century, but was remodeled into an adjoining mansion sometime around 1490. Today, it stands above the surrounding buildings alone. In the Middle Ages, however, this would not be the case. In the Middle Ages, towers were a part of larger building complexes and were merely a taller part of a cohesive whole. There would have additionally been many of these towered complexes in the area, such that any one tower would have been more or less on the same plane as many of the other towers, leading to a skyline made up significantly of large towers and other noble fortifications.
While we cannot speak with any certainty to the specific purpose of the Tor Millina, medieval towers were parts of houses that would have served several roles. One of the most important roles is a product of their elevation; towers allowed their owners to dominate the local area, with towers functioning as a means of control. Additionally, towers were defensive structures, providing a location of safety and shelter for the family that owned them, very much a luxury at the time.