These two leaning towers are symbol of Bologna, a town in northern Italy which was once nicknamed ‘La Turrita’ on account of its 150+towers, of which only 24 remain today.
Legend has it that they were inspiration for World Trade Center, since architect Minoru Yamasaki visited Bologna while designing Trade Center towers.
Both Towers take name of families who in 12th Century CE, ordered their construction, in a kind of compeтιтion to show which family was wealthiest and most powerful. Tallest of two is called Asinelli, while shorter is Garisenda, which leans more than Tower of Pisa by 0.1 degree.
In fact, Garisenda was once taller than Asinelli, but when ground yielded in 14th Century CE, incline became so dangerous that they had to shorten it by 12m. Dante Alighieri saw it while it was still at its full height, and referred to it in Canto 31 of The Inferno where he compared it to doubled over giant, Anteo
