Torre del Popolo (ca. 1228-1305)

The tower was started at some time after 1228 to provide a residence for the newly instituted Capitano del Popolo.  The precise date at which construction began is unknown, but one of the bells in the tower, which bears the name of the Capitano Rusticello del Poggio, is dated 1274, and the tower was almost certainly in use by this time. 

In 1275, at the time of Capitano Guglielmo dei Molari and Podestà Cipriano de’ Tornaquinci, the commune resolved to complete the construction. 

Fresco (ca. 1290) of a simple man paying homage to St Francis Upper church, San Francesco Photo courtesy of Paolo Rossi

The tower appears in a fresco (ca. 1290) in San Francesco, by which time it was only built as far as the first tier of bifore windows. 

The memorial tablet to the left of the portal (illustrated below) records its completion in 1305 under Capitano Cabrino da Parma.

The tower served as the residence of the Ghibeline Muzio di Francesco when he took over the city in 1319.

A terracotta relief to the left of the portal (below the inscription mentioned above)  shows the measures used in Assisi, including those for building materials (roof tiles, floor tiles, wood and bricks), various fabrics and the standard "piede" (foot).  The inscription records the fact that Capitano Angelo di Latero da Perugia installed this relief in 1348.

The first clock was installed in the tower in 1450. 

The Guild of Notaries used the tower as their headquarters in the period 1524-1707, and their arms (books, pen and inkwell) can be seen in the keystone above the portal (1524) that they commissioned.