The 14th-century tower that displayed severed heads

The Torre dell'Elefante was built in 1307 by the Sardinian architect Giovanni Capula during the Pisan domination of Cagliari. Designed to defend against the Aragonese invasion, the tower was constructed primarily of white limestone from Colle di Bonaria. In the Pisan style, one side was originally open and featured four floors of wooden galleries. The tower's height reaches roughly 31 metres, though it reaches 42 metres from the side of via Cammino Nuovo.

The structure has survived significant military conflict. It was damaged by English bombing in 1708, Spanish cannons in 1717, and lost its top part during a French attack in 1793. During the Spanish age, the building functioned as a prison. Its doors once displayed the severed heads of prisoners who had undergone the death penalty in the nearby plazuela. In the second half of the 17th century, the head of Marquis Cea was hung for several years after his involvement in a homicide.

Visitors to the tower today can see an engraved stone at the base near the door, noting its construction date and architect. Higher up, the walls feature several 14th-century crests, including the city's emblem. A shelf on the wall holds a small sculpture of an elephant, which was chosen as a symbol of Pisa. Along with the Torre di San Pancrazio, the tower still serves as a main entrance to the Castello quarter.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons