St Mark's Clocktower, Renaissance clock tower in San Marco, Italy
Description
St Mark's Clocktower is a Renaissance structure at Piazza San Marco that rises prominently above the surrounding buildings with its distinctive architecture. The building features a large arched gateway leading into the Merceria street and displays an astronomical dial showing both hours and minutes against a zodiac background.
History
Construction started in 1496 under architect Mauro Codussi to create a major public clock above the entrance to the old city. The complex clock mechanism was designed by brothers Gian Paolo and Gian Carlo Ranieri, who also created the bell still in use today that dates to 1497.
Culture
The two bronze figures at the top, called the Moors because of their dark patina, strike a large bell every hour. During certain religious holidays, doors on the tower open and the Three Magi emerge in a small mechanical procession.
Practical
Visiting the interior requires advance booking and is limited to small groups climbing narrow stairs inside the tower. The best time for photographs is in the morning when light falls directly on the dial from the front.
Did you know?
The dial combines Roman numerals for hours with Arabic numerals for minutes, an unusual pairing for a clock of that era. This dual numbering system reflects how Venice blended different mathematical traditions into a single working mechanism.
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Clock towers combine technical precision with architectural styles from different periods and cultures. These highly visible structures stand in city centers, university campuses and historic squares, where they structure public life. The collection includes varied examples: the 315 foot (96 meter)...
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We wait patiently for the full hours to ring so we can see the figures at the top of the tower strike the bells!
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