Together with its twin tower of San Pancrazio, it constitutes the still intact part of the fortifications that the Pisans built around the city between the late 13th century and the early 14th century, anticipating an attack by the King of Aragon. As attested by the inscription embedded in the tower, the structure was built in 1307 under the direction of Giovanni Capula, an architect probably of Sardinian origin.
Square in shape, it is about 30 meters high and made with large blocks of white limestone from the Bonaria quarries. The side facing Castello is open, as was typical of Pisan constructions, and shows the four floors built on wooden mezzanines.
A small sculpture depicting an elephant protrudes on a bracket 10 meters high. In addition to serving a defensive and lookout function, the tower acted as a gateway to the medieval city, as evidenced by the still existing portcullis.
Significant from a historical and architectural point of view, the tower outlines with its towering profile the urban shape of the Castello district and allows visitors to enjoy, from its summit, the splendid panorama of the city and its surroundings.
