Torre della Pagliazza

In the small Piazza Sant'Elisabetta in the historic center of Florence rises the Torre della Pagliazza, a structure regarded as one of the oldest surviving buildings in the city. Its uncertain origins are dated to the sixth or seventh century, yet it rests on even older Roman foundations. Archaeological excavations revealed that the base was built on the circular masonry of an ancient bath complex of Roman Florentia. Its unusual semicircular shape, rare in Florence's medieval architecture, is believed to derive directly from this Roman exedra. Whether the tower was built by the Byzantines during the Gothic War or later by the Lombards as a residential and defensive tower remains disputed among historians.

The tower's name comes from its use as a women's prison in the 13th century, where the inmates slept on straw mattresses known as pagliericci. Later the building served as the bell tower of the neighboring church of Sant'Elisabetta, before it was converted into private apartments and shops. After an extensive restoration that brought back its original 15th-century character, the tower now houses a hotel. A small museum has been set up on the ground floor, displaying the archaeological finds from the construction site.

There, you can admire a fascinating collection of ceramic fragments documenting the long history of the site. The display cases show Roman shards from the first century A.D., which bear witness to the founding of the city, as well as a striking absence of finds from the early Middle Ages. Particularly noteworthy are the elegant maiolica pieces of the 14th century and the rich Renaissance ceramics from the Montelupo manufactory. These pieces, including large plates with figurative scenes and colorful bowls, offer an impressive glimpse into the craft tradition and cultural change of the region over the centuries.