The Mannelli Tower is found on the far end of the Ponte Vecchio, Florence’s most famous and prestigious bridge which for many years has been the fulcrum of Florentine commerce and tourist activity.

The Mannelli Tower boasts a long and troubled history that has witnessed many vicissitudes and disputes caused by its strategic position. Today it is the only surviving tower of the four that once defended the bridge’s four corners. The Mannelli sided with the Ghibellines fraction and related to the Uberti family by marriage, rose up from the Roman lineage of the Manili. The tower became famous for the controversy created between the family with Cosimo I when he had planned to have it torn down so that the Vasari Corridor could be built.  The Mannelli family succeeded in their battle and got Cosimo I to have Vasari change the architectural plans so that corridor went around it.

This was also the general city quarter where the Florentine advocates lived including the father of the famous writer, Oriana Fallaci, who near the end of her own life had desired to make it her living quarters (unfortunately she was never able to fulfill this dream).