Torre das Cabaças, Clock tower in Marvila, Portugal
Torre das Cabaças is a stone tower in Santarém with a rectangular base that reaches approximately 22 meters in height. Eight ceramic pots are mounted on an iron framework at the summit, working together with a large bell installed in the structure.
Construction began under King Manuel I around 1500 as part of defensive installations at Santarém's Alporão Gate. The bronze bell was cast in 1604, marking a shift toward using the structure for civic purposes.
The tower emerged during a period when Santarém was a significant trading hub and the city was modernizing its fortifications. The ceramic vessels at the summit show the connection between practical city functions and the craft traditions that define the region.
The tower can typically be visited on weekdays and the best views of the structure are from the surrounding street and nearby squares. A visit fits easily into a walk through Santarém's historic center.
The ceramic pots originally served not just as decoration but helped acoustically amplify the bell's sound across the city. This dual function of craft and acoustics is uncommon and reveals how medieval builders solved practical problems with simple means.
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