Civic Tower

La torre civica di Macerata - Musei Macerata

The tower

La torre civica con orologio - Musei Macerata

The Civic Tower stands out in Piazza della Libertà with its 64 meters of height. Begun around 1492 by Matteo d’Ancona, it was completed after several interruptions only in 1653, based on a design by the military architect Galasso Alghisi da Carpi. From the easily accessible terrace of the crowning, it dominates a panorama that sweeps from the Sibillini mountains to the Adriatic sea.

On the tower there was an astronomical clock with automata, commissioned by the priors of the city of Macerata and built between 1569 and 1571 by the brothers Giulio, Lorenzo Maria and Ippolito Ranieri, master watchmakers from Reggio Emilia. The work, which testifies to the splendor of Renaissance cosmology, included five automata that came to life at the stroke of the hands. The wooden sculptures are now preserved in the Civic Museums of Palazzo Buonaccorsi, as are the bronze panels with the zodiac signs, an integral part of the mechanism.

In 2015 the planetary clock was restored, thanks to the faithful historical reconstruction of the ancient clock made by the Mantuan master Alberto Gorla with the scientific collaboration of the Galileo Museum in Florence and Opera Laboratori Fiorentini for the ornamental part and the automata. The carousel of the Magi can be admired at 12:00 and 18:00.

The astronomical clock

Meccanismo storico dell'orologio della torre civica - Musei Macerata

The astronomical clock is composed of a dial with concentric circles that indicates the time, the phases of the moon and the movement of celestial bodies. The hours are marked by the tapping of the beak of a metal bird, called ‘Caesar’, on a bell. The mechanism is synchronized in such a way that, twice a day, the automaton system came alive: the Magi preceded by an angel bowed in front of the wooden statue of the Madonna and Child, seated on the throne.

The mechanism was very complex: within the hour ring the apparent movement of celestial bodies is simulated, the Moon, the Sun, the five planets then known and the constellations of the zodiac revolve around the Earth, according to the geocentric theory prevailing at the time. period of the making of the clock (1571).

On the side of the base that overlooks the square of the tower is the plaque to Vittorio Emanuele II who until 2015 occupied the space of the ancient clock now restored.

Timetables

Visiting times from November to March: Guided tours from Tuesday to Sunday by reservation (0733.060279) at 10.30am, 12.00pm, 3.00pm, 4.00pm

Visiting times for April, May and October: every day (from Monday to Sunday) Guided tours by reservation (0733.060279) at 10.30am, 12.00pm, 3.00pm, 4.00pm, 5.00pm

Visiting times from June to September: every day (from Monday to Sunday) Guided tours by reservation (0733.060279) at 10.30, 12.00, 15.00, 16.00, 17.00, 18.00

Address
piazza della Libertà, Macerata (MC)

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