Dianne you suggested I play around with the mosaic shots and having done so only one came out well - the others are either too blurred or shot at funny angles to make good closeups. Here it is together with a few more tower shots.
1 The mosaic closeup -Three wise men and the star (note their names are picked out above), 6th century in San Apollinare Nuovo. Thought this might make a good Christmas card... Love their fancy leggings - and they are wearing Phrygian caps, symbol of freedom and liberty, adopted also during the French Revolution
2 - 4 Torre Civico (town tower in Ravenna) still standing - just.
This visibly leaning tower is the sole survivor of many mediaeval towers that once dotted the city of Ravenna. It was built in the 12th century, when prominent families raced to build such towers to assert their power and dominance all over central Italy. The towers of Ravenna were deliberately destroyed in the 13th century when the city came under papal rule, as a way to exert control over the city. Only la Torre Civica was spared because it had been taken over by the local government of Ravenna. The tower rises 39 metres and is reinforced with steel in order to prevent it from collapsing.
Fun Things To Do in Ravenna - Attractions & Must See - VirtualTourist
5 San Marino, Palazzo Pubblico -town hall and government building
6 Tower of 5, seen above the rooftops
7 Urbino, Ducal Palace
8 Close up of above
9 Torre del Mangia, Siena at dusk. The name, (meaning "Tower of the Eater") derives from its first guardian,
Giovanni di Balduccio, nicknamed
Mangiaguadagni for his tendency to spend all his money on food. Built in 1338-1348, it is located in the Piazza del Campo, adjacent to the Palazzo Pubblica. When built it was one of the tallest secular towers in medieval Italy. At 88 m, it is now second only to Cremona's Torrazzo - Dianne, over to you!
10 San Gimignano - the medieval Manhattan - this is where most tourists go to see towers but we couldn't get closer than 2km in our motorhome, even to park so we didn't bother. Same in Assisi, but other paces such as Loreto (pilgrimage centre), Pienza (Renaissance gem) and San Marino, were positively welcoming. Could do a whole post of pics of our van parked in various Italian towns!