Astronomical clock /Torre dell'Orologio - Padova, Italy - Town Clocks on Waymarking.com

The clock tower is a medieval building overlooking Piazza dei Signori in Padua. It stands between the Palazzo del Capitanio and the Palazzo dei Camerlenghi. The tower was built in the first half of the 14th century as the Eastern Gate of the Palace. In 1428 he was elevated and adorned in Gothic style and equipped with the famous astronomical clock. In 1531 was added the great triumphal arch at the base, designed by Giovanni Maria Falconetto. The building dates from the first half of the fourteenth century, when it served as a fortified entrance of levante of Carrara but its present appearance is due to jobs promoted since 1426 from Callao Bartolomeo Morosini concluded with the unveiling of the clock on the feast of Saint Anthony of 1437.

The astronomical clock overlooking the square is the reproduction of the original mechanism on the Tower of the South Gate of the Palace Carrarese, built on the extraordinary project by Jacopo Dondi in 1344 and damaged by a fire that broke out because of skirmishes from Prince Francesco Novello Visconti occupation. This ancient instrument trecentesco original zodiac signs are preserved, reused by Matthew Novello and Giovanni e Gian Pietro of Caldiere for the construction of the present, ended in 1436. The corniciatura, featuring Ionic pilasters to Giovanni Maria Falconetto who restored the façade of the Tower commissioned vitally Lando in 1537. The valuable mechanism-that suffered centuries of restorations and additions-is stayed on the third floor of the Tower, supported by a wooden castle and protected by a massive wardrobe.

Among the signs of the Zodiac on the monumental dial overlooking the square, missing the sign of Libra. Such failure is due to the fact that the signs represented depend on the zodiacal constellations in which pre-Roman system of Scorpio and Libra were United in one (occupying more space in the Zodiac range). Still today, in fact the two parts of the constellation Libra are called "North" and "South" chela chela. At the time of its construction the clock also contained a representation of the balance that was eliminated during a modification to 1787 by the Abbot Bartolomeo Toffoli operated between 1792 and who would follow the oldest Zodiac subdivisions. The popular tradition that the lack of balance would be a builder of spite against the lack of Justice of clients who would pay him an amount less than the agreed upon are substantially devoid of historical Foundation. However the symbol of Libra was positioned in the base of marble that holds up the flagpole. Is not visible at a glance because the same color as the base. The popularity of the astronomical clock, one of the first made in Italy, was such that the descendants of Jacopo Dondi was added the surname "of the clock". Some descendants of the family still reside in Padua. The watch is returned to work in June 2010 after a careful restoration that has affected both the architectural structure of the tower that the mechanisms of the genuine watch.

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Status: Working Display: Mounted Year built: 01/01/1344 Web link to additional info: Not listed

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