The Clock Tower

The clock tower is one of many symbols recalling the era of the Carrara family in the history of Padova. The monument and its mechanism became an abiding presence in the daily life of the townspeople -and other besides- during the 14th century.
his impressive buildin, standing in the Piazza dei Signori, between the Palazzo dei Camerlenghi and the Palazzo del Capitanio, was erected between 1426 and 1430 over the ruins of the east gate of the reggia Carrarese. It was during 1427 that the Capitanio Bortolomeo Morosini ordered work to begin on enlarging and adapting the tower, precisily in order to accomodate the great clock made by Giovanni and Gian Petro Dalle Caldiere. The dial was decorated in 1436 by Giorgio da Treviso.

Once the preparation of the tower had been completed in 1430, work could begin on installing the new mechanismthat the city wished so earnestly to see in place. At last, during the celebration for the Feast of S. Antony in 1437, the people of Padova were able to witnessin inauguration.
In 1532, Giovanni Maria Falconutto was commissioned to design the triumphal arch, in Istrian stone, wich gave access to Piazza Capitanio, reflecting a more open relationship with the citizens and replacing the Gothic gateway wich had previously led to the Reggia Carrarese.

Info
piazza dei Signori
tel. +39 049 8561212, +39 335 7284724
for tickets click here

The clock tower is kept open to the publicby volunteers of Salvalarte, a branch of the nation-wide environmental  association Legambiente. Set up in 1996 to provide and promote stewardship of the country's artistic heritage, Salvalarte ensures that the public can visit sites of historic interest which wuold otherwise remain inaccessible.