Quote:You have found swallowtail merlons in northern Italy. Now show me a coned tower with balcony from northern Italy and you win.
I haven't just "found" swallowtail merlons in northern Italy.
If you had glanced at the history of the Ghibelline and Guelphs, as I suggested, you would know that Ghibelline merlons originated there as a political statement. There is plenty of textual evidence to support it even if one can't find very many pictures.