A technical, artistic and engineering masterpiece, the astronomical clock in Padua represents a jewel that deserves to be known and visited.<\/p>\n
The astronomical clock set in the Tower is the most ancient of its kind in the world<\/strong>. Destroyed by fires and incidents of war in 1390, the astronomical clock was rebuilt in 1427 by the Venetian Republic. <\/p>\n\n Reconstruction works began thanks to the horologist Matteo Novello. Work was completed in 1436 by Giovanni and Gian Pietro Dalle Caldiere. The unveiling of the new masterpiece took place in 1437 for the traditional festivities of the Celebration of Sant\u2019Antonio (Saint Anthony)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n In 1532 Giovanni Maria Falconetto adorned the fa\u00e7ade of the Clock Tower according to the stylistic architectural style of the Renaissance, making several changes. <\/p>\n\n The clock is made up of four circular quadrants and one inner band. Here are the elements that tell us every day the lunar phases and position of the planets:<\/p>\n\n The clock tower is 30 metres high and has five floors<\/strong>. The first three contain the clock\u2019s mechanisms, while the last two were used as the clock master\u2019s lodgings<\/strong>, whose job was to look after and maintain the clock.<\/p>\n\n Until a couple of decades ago, the accuracy of the astronomical-astrological clock was guaranteed by the clock master and expert horologist<\/strong> that lived in the tower.<\/p>\n\n You will be able to discover what life would have been like living in the tower by visiting it, with the added bonus of a fantastic view of the square from a little window up in the tower.<\/p>\n\n The inside<\/strong> of the tower, with the astral clock, can be visited<\/strong> to admire the engineering systems of all the components thanks to a deal that was made between the Council of Padua and Salvalarte (Save the art)<\/strong>, the part of the Legambiente association whose volunteers highly value the artistic heritage of our city.<\/p>\n\n To adhere to pandemic safety regulations, booking<\/a> is now mandatory in order to make a visit.<\/p>\n\n Among the zodiac signs<\/strong> represented in the astronomical clock of Piazza dei Signori, you will find that the scales that represent Libra are missing<\/strong>, the symbol of justice, yet Scorpio\u2019s scorpion<\/strong>, symbol of he\/she that does not forget, takes up two quadrants<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n Is this perhaps the designer\u2019s revenge towards a less financially generous client? Was it a political provocation towards the unjust and disliked Venetian lords? Or a mistake made by the astronomers and astrologers that designed the clock? It was none of these.<\/p>\n\n The Libra scales don\u2019t appear among the Zodiac signs on the Paduan clock because the theoretical reference that was used was of Greek astronomy, in which Libra had not yet been defined as a constellation in its own right (the Arabs would do that) and its stars were still considered as part of Scorpio.<\/p>\n\n You should know that in Padua there is a rumour that the Libra symbol is hidden in another place in the Piazza dei Signori<\/strong>, probably on the marble base of the flagpole. Is it true? Come to Padua to find out for yourselves!<\/p>\n\n Location<\/strong> Photos via:![](\"https:\/\/www.apartmentspadova.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/logo_apartmentspadova_orizzontale.jpg\"){kind=logo}
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nA journey through the history of the astronomical clock in Piazza dei Signori<\/h2>\n\n
The astronomical clock in Piazza dei Signori: an extraordinary time machine<\/h2>\n\n
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How does the astral clock work? Find out with a guided tour<\/h2>\n\n
A curiosity<\/h2>\n\n
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