The Clock Tower, rectangular in shape and built in 1472-73 to a design by Luca Fancelli at the request of Marquis Ludovico II, is so called because of the ancient clock made by Bartolomeo Manfredi, a mechanic, mathematician and astrologer at the Gonzaga court, also known as Bartolomeo dell’Orologio.
The Clock was inaugurated in December 1473.
The dial indicates the hours marked by Roman numerals, and shows other indications such as the signs of the zodiac, planetary hours, the days of the Moon, and the position of the stars useful for knowing whether a certain time of day is under the influence of favorable planets.
Museum of Time
Inside the Tower, with access from the hall of Palazzo della Ragione, there is an initial display of the objects and gears left out or replaced over time by those who put their hands on the clock.
Thus it will be possible to admire the fifteenth-century crown the hands, the embossed copper zodiac signs, Fontana’s pendulum, and also the two nineteenth-century structures in wood and carved sheet metal that, rotating behind the octagonal windows, allowed the clock to be read even at night.
The visit is absolutely recommended both to admire the clock machine mechanisms, but also for the breathtaking view from the top floor of the tower, where one can catch one of the most beautiful views of the city, ranging with the gaze to the lakes surrounding Mantua.
