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All Italy Venice St. Mark's Clock Tower (Torre dell'Orologio)

St. Mark's Clock Tower (Torre dell'Orologio)

Go inside to really appreciate this 500-year-old technological masterpiece.

Venice, Italy

Added By
Annetta Black
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View from across Piazza San Marco.   Nikater/Wikimedia
The clock face displays the time, the phase of the moon, and a dominant sign of the Zodiac.   Peter J StB Green/Wikimedia
Detail of the clock’s “Moors.”   Abxbay/Wikimedia
Bell as seen from Campaniile   argusfoto / Atlas Obscura User
  zackofalltrades / Atlas Obscura User
  Anna Fox/Flickr
  Marie-Lan Nguyen/Wikimedia
  Deror avi/Wikimedia
  bsempowski / Atlas Obscura User
  tylercole / Atlas Obscura User
May 2021 first reopening of the city after the second wave of covid 2021   Juan Pablo Pozo Hernandez / Atlas Obscura User
  mocchiatto / Atlas Obscura User
One of the mechanisms used to represent the time on the outside of the tower, as seen from inside the tower. This wheel represents the hours.   rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
One of the mechanisms used to display the time on the outside of the tower, as seen from inside the tower. This wheel represents the minutes past each hour.   rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
The view of the bell and the figures striking the bell from the top of the tower.   rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
Torre dell’Orologio in high tide   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
  shaw95 / Atlas Obscura User
  minac / Atlas Obscura User
  Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
  houseofballs / Atlas Obscura User
The end.   Julius Spada / Atlas Obscura User
The inner workings.   Julius Spada / Atlas Obscura User
The elder ‘Moor.’   Julius Spada / Atlas Obscura User
  Julius Spada / Atlas Obscura User
  Julius Spada / Atlas Obscura User
  Julius Spada / Atlas Obscura User
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Commissioned by Doge Agostino Barbarigo in 1493, the glorious Torre dell'Orologio, also known as St. Mark's Clock Tower, or "the Moor's Clocktower," facing into Piazza San Marco, is a marvel of 15th-century engineering.

It was designed by Maurizio Codussi and built beginning in 1496. The clock displays the time, the phase of the moon, and the dominant sign of the Zodiac. Venetian legend holds that when the clock was revealed on February 1, 1499, it was so beautiful that the doge had the clockmaker blinded so that he could not create another to rival it.

In reality, the two master mechanics of the clock were made its caretakers, beginning the tradition that the clock's keepers live in the tower with their families.

The clock tower is topped by two bronze figures who strike the bell hourly. Although they were originally designated as giants, their dark patina lent them the nickname "Moors." A relief of the winged lion of St. Mark, patron saint and symbol of Venice, stands on an open book below the Moors. A statue of the Virgin Mary stands one level down, above the massive clock face. The clock was intentionally designed to sit high enough in the square to be protected from Venice's waters and to be visible from the canal.

On Ascension Week and Epiphany, carved figures of the four Magi join the Moors hourly, emerging from the clock face and bowing to the Virgin Mary above them. An angel raises a trumpet in recognition of them, and the Magi bow in return.

Inside the tower, the clock mechanism shares space with living quarters. Guided tours climb the 19th-century spiral staircases inside the tower all the way up to the rooftop Moors.

The clock and the tower buildings have been modified and restored many times over the years, including the addition of one of the world's first digital displays in 1858. Two internal huge drums spin to display the hours and minutes in Roman and Arabic numerals on either side of the Madonna.

Most recently, the clock emerged from scaffolding from the thorough overhauling of 1998-2006 in honor of the clock's 500th anniversary. The bell that rings today is still the original cast at at the Arsenal in 1497. 

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Inventions Astounding Timepieces Amazing Automata Architectural Oddities Eccentric Homes Clocks Architecture Homes
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Community Contributors

Added By

Annetta Black

Edited By

Martin, argusfoto, houseofballs, Allison...

  • Martin
  • argusfoto
  • houseofballs
  • Allison
  • Jaszmina Szendrey
  • zackofalltrades
  • shaw95
  • tylercole
  • Dr Alan P Newman
  • minac
  • rbenn250
  • mocchiatto
  • bsempowski
  • Juan Pablo Pozo Hernandez
  • Julius Spada
  • Bruxy

Published

July 10, 2012

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Sources
  • Cabinet of Wonders: San Marco Clock Tower, Venice: http://cabinet-of-wonders.blogspot.com/2008/06/san-marco-clock-tower-venice.html
  • TickItaly: Torre dell'Orologio, Venice: http://www.tickitaly.com/tickets/venice-clock-tower.php
  • Fondazione Musei Civici Venezia: http://www.museiciviciveneziani.it/frame.asp?musid=1&sezione=musei
St. Mark's Clock Tower (Torre dell'Orologio)
Piazza San Marco
Venice, 30124
Italy
45.434702, 12.338911
Get Directions

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