Torre di Londra (dal 1078): la fortezza normanna sul Tamigi, mille anni di storia
Fortezza, palazzo reale, prigione, zecca, arsenale e serraglio: in quasi mille anni la Torre di Londra è stata tutto questo. Eretta da Guglielmo il Conquistatore per dominare la città, custodisce ancora i Gioielli della Corona e i suoi corvi leggendari, sorvegliati dalle guardie in costume rosso.
At a glance
The Tower of London is a Norman fortress on the north bank of the Thames, begun by William the Conqueror to dominate his newly conquered capital. Its keep, the White Tower, was built from about 1078. Over nearly a thousand years it has served as royal palace, fortress, prison, place of execution, Royal Mint, arsenal, menagerie and treasury. Today it guards the Crown Jewels and is watched over by the Yeomen Warders and its famous ravens. It was inscribed by UNESCO in 1988.
Key facts
- UNESCO: World Heritage since 1988
- White Tower: the Norman keep, begun about 1078 under William the Conqueror
- Crown Jewels: the British coronation regalia are kept and displayed here
- Many roles: palace, fortress, prison, Royal Mint, arsenal and royal menagerie
- Yeomen Warders: the “Beefeaters” who guard the Tower and lead tours
- Ravens: by legend, the kingdom falls if the Tower’s ravens ever leave
History
After his victory at Hastings in 1066, William the Conqueror raised a stronghold in the south-east corner of London’s Roman walls; the stone White Tower followed from about 1078, a statement of Norman power over the city. Successive kings ringed it with concentric walls, a moat and towers, making it the mightiest fortress in the land.
The Tower’s history is also a history of imprisonment and execution: Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, Lady Jane Grey, Sir Thomas More and Sir Walter Raleigh were among those held or beheaded here. It housed the Royal Mint for centuries and a menagerie of exotic animals, the ancestor of the London Zoo, before becoming the visitor attraction and home of the Crown Jewels that it is today.
What you see
The White Tower rises at the centre, its four corner turrets a London landmark, housing the Royal Armouries and the Norman chapel of St John. The Crown Jewels are displayed in the Waterloo Block, where the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign’s Sceptre glitter behind glass. Traitors’ Gate opens onto the river where prisoners once arrived by boat.
Yeomen Warders in Tudor dress lead tours, and the ravens stalk the green where the scaffold once stood.
Practical information
- Entry: timed tickets; the Crown Jewels and White Tower are the highlights
- Tours: free Yeomen Warder tours are included with admission
- Time needed: about half a day
- Note: very busy; book online and arrive early for the Crown Jewels
Getting there
The Tower stands beside Tower Bridge in central London. Tower Hill Underground station is a few minutes’ walk; the Tower is also a stop for river boats on the Thames. GPS: 51.5081° N, 0.0759° W.
Nearby
- Tower Bridge — the Victorian bascule bridge beside the Tower, with a high-level walkway
- The City of London — St Paul’s Cathedral and the financial district to the west
- Westminster — Parliament and the Abbey, also UNESCO-listed, upstream
Sources
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre — “Tower of London” (ref. 488)
- Historic Royal Palaces — Tower of London, official site
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Tower of London
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