The Elephant Tower and San Pancrazio Tower are additional remnants of the 14th-century fortification system built by the rulers of Pisa. In fact, a third tower was also built but ultimately collapsed at the end of the 18th century after several bombings over the years.

One side of each tower was sealed off in the mid-14th century to make way for residential buildings and shops. On one side of the Elephant Tower, there is a small statue of the animal that gave the tower its name. Three sides of the towers are built from stone in a local style, while the fourth side is open, revealing wooden supports and the floors that make up the interior sections.

Visitors can climb inside the towers and enjoy views of the city from the top. In 1906, renovations were made to the towers, giving them their current appearance.