Dubrovnik Bell Tower

The Dubrovnik Bell Tower ( hr, Gradski zvonik) is a tower in

Dubrovnik Dubrovnik (), historically known as Ragusa (; see notes on naming), is a city on the Adriatic Sea in the region of Dalmatia, in the southeastern semi-exclave of Croatia. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterran ...

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

. Located on Luža Square at the end of the Stradun, the tower is 31 metres high. Originally constructed in 1444, the tower suffered damage in the

1667 Dubrovnik earthquake The 1667 Dubrovnik earthquake was one of the three most devastating earthquakes to hit what is now modern Croatia in the last 2,400 years, since records began. The entire city was almost destroyed and around 3,000 to 5,000 people were killed. The ...

among other earthquakes and, having started to lean towards the Stradun in the early 19th century, it was demolished in 1928 and entirely rebuilt to the original design in 1929. It was damaged again in the

1979 Montenegro earthquake The 1979 Montenegro earthquake occurred on 15 April at 06:19 UTC with a moment magnitude of 6.9 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (''Extreme''). It was the most devastating earthquake in SR Montenegro, then part of Yugoslavia,(Montenegrin)Crno ...

, and restored in 1987–1988. The bronze bell which strikes the hours was cast in 1506 by

Ivan Rabljanin Ivan Krstitelj Rabljanin ( it, Johannes Baptista Arbensis de la Tolle) (1470–1540) was a famous cannon and bell founder in bronze; born in Rab, most of his works are in Dubrovnik. He made cannons for Italy, Spain and Republic of Dubrovnik ...

. The two bronze jacquemarts which strike the bell are known as Maro and Baro, or the Zelenci (green ones), due to their green

patina Patina ( or ) is a thin layer that variously forms on the surface of copper, brass, bronze and similar metals and metal alloys (tarnish produced by oxidation or other chemical processes) or certain stones and wooden furniture (sheen produced b ...

. The present Zelenci are replicas installed in the rebuilt tower in 1929. The original Zelenci of circa 1478 are now exhibited in the Cultural History Museum in the

Rector's Palace George Rector 878-1947was a restaurateur, raconteur and food authority who wrote several cookbooks in the 1920s and '30s. He appeared on radio on the Columbia Broadcasting System in ''Dine with George Rector''Towers in Croatia Buildings and structures in Dubrovnik Bell towers Clock towers

Bell Tower A bell tower is a tower that contains one or more bells, or that is designed to hold bells even if it has none. Such a tower commonly serves as part of a Christian church, and will contain church bells, but there are also many secular bell tower ...

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