Torre dell'Orologio is a clock tower located in the
Piazza (Plaza) Dei Signori and positioned between the ''Palazzo (Palace) del Capitanio'' and the ''Palazzo dei Camerlenghi'' in
Padua, or Padova, Italy. It is also referred to as the astronomical clock of Padua.
[ Dead link. Archived a]
Clock tower in Padova - POI
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The tower's construction began in 1426 and finished around 1430. The tower was a commission from Prince
Ubertino de Carrara, who was part of the Carraresi clan of Padua, Italy, he was the Lord of Padua from 1338 to 1345. It would later be enlarged to accommodate the new clock that was created in 1427. The clock itself was completed in 1434.
Later in 1436, ornamentation was added to the dial of the clock, and a year later the clock tower was inaugurated.
At the base of the tower, the great triumphal arch, designed by
Giovanni Maria Falconetto
Giovanni Maria Falconetto (c. 1468–1535) was an Italian architect and artist. He designed among the first high Renaissance buildings in Padua, the '' Loggia Cornaro'', a garden ''loggia'' for Alvise Cornaro built as a Roman doric arcade. Alon ...
, was added in 1531.
The design and construction of the clock was overseen by Giovanni Dondi dell'Orologio, also known as
Giovanni de' Dondi, who was an Italian physician, astronomer and mechanical engineer from Italy. Dondi was assisted by Gian Petro Dalle Caldiere. The clock has references to the zodiac throughout its design. However, on the original clock, the Libra sign was not present, as with the pre-Roman system Scorpio and Libra were one Zodiac sign.
Today, the clock is open to the public. A group of volunteers called the Salvalarte ensures that sites like this one are open to the public. This group is a branch of the nation-wide environmental association.
References
{{Astronomical clocks
Renaissance architecture in Padua
Clock towers in Italy
Piazzas in Padua
Buildings and structures in Padua
Astronomical clocks in Italy