Here is the Tower of the Monkey, located not far from the Pantheon. A peculiar name for a tower that rises in the sky of Rome since the XVI century (but probably it has medieval origins), when it acted as the crown and the defense of the Scapucci Palace. It is time to know better one of the nice curiosities and legends that make Rome so special. 

First of all there is nothing strange for the presence of a tower because, over the centuries, the most important and wealthy families of Rome used to fortify their houses, both to protect their wealth both to face possible attacks from rival families. One of the most impressive examples of a defensive tower of Rome is the so called Torre delle Milizie, which resisted, over the centuries, being today one of the landmarks of the Eternal City. Having a quadrangular shape, with corbels to decorate the top floor (4 floors in total), the Tower of the Monkey stands out between the others of the same age, or of previous periods that are to be found in Rome, since we find, at the top of it, a statue dedicated to the Virgin Mary with the perpetual light. Why?

Here we enter into the field of one of the many legends that enriches the history of Rome. The Scapucci family was well-known and famous in Rome, because in the house it kept a small monkey. An exotic animal that, in the end, symbolizes the extraordinary wealth of the Scapucci family, which also have at home an animal that certainly was not common here in Rome. Maybe for a game, or who knows for what other reason, one day the animal took the infant, still in the bands, of the Scapucci family. It climbed up to the top of the tower. Imagine the fear of the parents who really didn't know what to do, seeing the monkey playing there, walking up and down, going back and forth on, on the highest point of the tower. And it was there that the father had the idea: he used the whistle to recall the little monkey, a whistle knew very well by the animal. The man tried it more than once. In this way, without a great danger for the infant, the monkey went back in the house and the parents were able to embrace again their beloved daughter. In the end, they decided to build the small statue of the Madonna, with perpetual light, such as gratitude and thanksgiving for his escape from danger. A way to say thanks to the Virgin Mary whose cult, even today, is much felt in the Eternal City. When I pass here, during a walking tour, I use to indicate to my tourists why this tower is remarkable. And now you know why...