Torre degli Sciri (Sciri Tower), Perugia

The Sciri Tower (Torre degli Sciri), also known as the Tower of Scalzi or the Tower of the Becchette, is a remarkable medieval landmark in Perugia. Dating back to the 13th century, it rises 46 meters high and stands at the beginning of Via dei Priori in the historic district of Porta Santa Susanna. Constructed from limestone blocks, it is the only fully preserved medieval tower in a city that once boasted around 50 such structures, built as symbols of wealth, power, and defensive strength.

Originally part of the noble Oddi clan’s estate, the tower later passed to the Sciri family in the late 15th or early 16th century, likely after the Oddi's expulsion from Perugia in 1488 by the rival Baglioni family. The tower's design may have been inspired by Pierle's castle, an earlier Oddi possession featuring a tall central tower.

After the Sciri family's extinction in the 17th century, the property was given to Sister Lucia Tartaglini of Cortona, who founded the Suor Lucia Conservatory for orphaned girls. Nicknamed the Tower of the Becchette after the nuns, it later housed the Discalced Carmelites and the Oblate Sisters of Saint Philip Neri. A major restoration from 2011 to 2015 renewed the tower, church, and nearby buildings, highlighting the tower's earthquake-resistant masonry and historical significance.

Architectural details include a heraldic shield on the door's lintel, featuring the Sciri family crest-a rooster’s leg-and the initials "N" and "I," likely referring to Nicola Iacobi degli Sciri. Above the entrance is a votive ceramic panel depicting the Madonna with the infant Jesus, accompanied by the inscription "Mother of Divine Grace, pray for us".

The Sciri Tower is a testament to Perugia’s medieval heritage, embodying centuries of history, family rivalries, and adaptive reuse that connects the past to the present.