St Mark's Clock Tower - Venezia, Italy
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N 45° 26.083 E 012° 20.339
33T E 291863 N 5034688
St Mark's Clock Tower (Italian: Torre dell'Orologio) is an early Renaissance building located in Piazza San Marco in Venezia, Italy.
Waymark Code: WMX3XK
Location: Veneto, Italy
Date Posted: 11/23/2017
Views: 10
The building consists of a central tower built between 1496 and 1499 by the architect Mauro Codussi, and two lateral wings, added later. The arc connects the Piazza San Marco with the Mercerie, the main commercial artery of Venice.
On a terrace at the top of the tower are two great bronze figures, hinged at the waist, which strike the hours on a bell. One is old and the other young, to show the passing of time and, although said to represent shepherds (they are wearing sheepskins) or giants (they are huge figures of great mass, necessary so that their form can be recognized at a distance) they are known as "the Moors" because of the dark patina acquired by the bronze. The bell is also original and is signed by one Simeone who cast it at the Arsenal in 1497.
Below the bell is a sculpture of a winged lion with an open book on a blue background with gold stars. Below again, is a semi-circular gallery with statues of the Virgin and Child seated, in gilt beaten copper. On either side are two large blue panels showing the time: the hour on the left in Roman numerals and the minutes (at 5 minute intervals) on the right in Arabic numerals. Twice a year, at Epiphany (6 January) and on Ascension Day (the Thursday 40 days after Easter) the three Magi, led by an angel with a trumpet, emerge from one of the doorways and pass in procession round the gallery, bowing to the Virgin and child, before disappearing through the other door.
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