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At the end of the 13th century, Oristano, the capital city of the kingdom of Arborea, had a defensive system that was developed by king Mariano II de Bas Serra: the wall, 2 kilometers long, had 5 gates and 28 guard towers. The waters from the Tirso River fed the moat that ran along the wall, making the city of Oristano unbreachable.
This tower, called the tower of Mariano II, was the north gate. It was built with squared sandstone blocks between 1290 and 1293. This tower is 29 metres high, with three floors, and it is crowned by 15 Guelph merlons (5 on each side). Each merlon shows sandstone elements shaped like a hook and used to support protective wooden shutters. The tower of Mariano II is also called Porta Manna (in Sardinian language this means the biggest entrance), Porta Pontis (which opened up on a Roman bridge called Ponti Mannu) and it was later named tower of St. Christopher, saint patron of travellers, (this was attested by a painting dedicated to the saint). There was an identical tower in the south gate: the tower of St. Philiph (or Porta Mari because it was towards the sea) nearby the kings' palace, but it was destroyed at the end of the XIX century. The other gates were the tower of Portixedda (still visible) and the door of St. Anthony.
The date of the tower construction is documented by an inscription (once located above the gate and now replaced by a copy) kept in the Antiquarium Arborense.
The inscription says: "In the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ Amen. The construction of this tower, its wall and gate belonging to the city of Arestano have been carried out by Lord Mariano, Viscount of Bas, Judge of Arborea, who happily may live long and, after death, may rest in Christ. In the year one thousand two hundred and ninety, third indiction. In the twenty-fifth year of his reign."
FIRST FLOOR
The first floor of the tower is the entrance to the walkway along the wall. Soldiers could enter the tower through two openings on both the north-east and south-west sides. Two side arrowslits defended the tower connection to the wall.
SECOND FLOOR
The second floor has three arrowslits and a murder hole. The entrance to the tower was guarded by a portcullis, which was raised or lowered by chains or ropes attached to an internal winch.
THIRD FLOOR
The third floor houses a smaller turret surrounded by a perimeter walkway and protected by battlements. This quadrangular turret reaches about 10 metres.
In the turret there is a bronze bell dedicated to Leonardo Cubello, first marquis of Oristano: it was made in 1430 when, after the fall of the kingdom of Arborea, the city became the capital of the marquisate of Oristàn.
The most important detail of this bronze bell is represented by 24 Marian invocations on its surface, to put the city of Oristàn under Our Lady's protection.
During the Spanish domination, the bell called the city council and sounded the alarm when the Tirso River overflowed, in order to protect citizens.