Campanile di S.Maria ad Nives

The most famous monument from the high-medieval period in Faenza, erected by the Black Benedictines from S.Maria Foris Portam in the IX century.

Explaination: Dating back to the IX century, the bell tower was erected by using the remains of even more ancient material, including that from Roman times. The structural planning of this bell tower is unique in its kind while, at the same time, it has similarities with those from the Ravenna area, especially with regards to the base with spurs that join up the four corners to the external octagonal structure which holds the staircase that winds around the internal cylindrical flue. Beneath the XII century belfry a second belfry with central columns and small covering arches was built (a kind of “elevated crypt”), devoted to San Pier Damiano, who died in the monastery guest-rooms near to the bell tower base on February 22nd 1072. The top was damaged by cannon shots in 1944; the section was rebuilt after the war, returning it to its original appearance which, in the year ‘400, had been modified by placing a spire on its roof.