Page 82 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Venice & The Veneto

80  VENICE AREA B Y AREA

1 Campanile permitting, the peaks of the
Alps. It was from this viewpoint
Piazza San Marco. Map 7 B2.
Tel 041 270 83 11. 4 San Marco. that Galileo demonstrated his
Open daily. Nov–Easter: 9:30am–5pm tele scope to Doge Leonardo
(to 4:45pm Sat & Sun); Easter–Oct: Donà in 1609. To do so, he
9am–7pm (Jul–Sep: to 9pm). would have climbed the
Closed in bad weather. & 9 internal ramp. Access today
∑ basilicasanmarco.it is via a lift for which there is
usually a queue. Visitors at the
From the top of St Mark’s top of the tower on the hour
campanile, high above the should note that the five bells
Piazza, visitors can enjoy ring quite loudly. The highly ornamented clock face of the
sublime views of the city, The first tower, completed Torre dell’Orologio
the lagoon and, visibility in 1173, was built as a lighthouse
to assist navigators in the lagoon. 2 Torre
In the Middle Ages, it took on a dell’Orologio
less benevolent role as the sup­
The spire, 98.5 m port for a torture cage where Piazza San Marco. Map 7 B2. Tel 848
(323 ft) high, is offenders were imprisoned 082 000. 4 San Marco. Open 10 &
topped with a and in some cases left to die. 11am Mon–Wed, 2 & 3pm Thu–Sun
golden weather­ The tower’s present appear­ for prebooked tours in English.
vane designed by ance dates from the early Closed 1 Jan, 25 Dec. &
∑ torreorologio.visitmuve.it
Bartolomeo Bon. 16th century, when it was
restored by Bartolomeo The richly decorated
The five bells in Bon after an earthquake. Renaissance clock tower stands
the tower each The tower survived on the north side of the Piazza,
had their role the vicissitudes of time over the archway leading to the
during the until 14 July 1902, when Mercerie (see p99). It was built in
Republic. The its foundations gave the late 15th century, and the
marangona way and it collapsed. central section is thought to
tolled the start The only casualties were have been designed by Mauro
and end of the the Loggetta at the foot of Coducci. Displaying the phases
working day; the the tower and the custo­ of the moon and the zodiac,
malefico warned
of an execution; dian’s cat. The following the gilt and blue enamel clock
the nona rang at year, with the help of was originally designed with
noon; the mezza many donations, the seafarers in mind. A story was
terza summoned foundation stone was laid spread by scandalmongers that,
senators to the for a campanile “dov’era e once the clock was complete,
Doge’s Palace; com’era” (“where it was the two inventors of the
and the trottiera and how it was”). The new complex clock mechanism
announced a tower was opened on 25 had their eyes gouged out
session of the April (St Mark’s Day) 1912. to prevent them from ever
Great Council. Due to small structural creating a replica.
shifts, work has begun to During Ascension week and
reinforce the foundations. Epiphany, the clock draws large
An internal lift, There is no known end crowds, who watch the figures
installed in 1962, date for the work. of the Magi emerge from side
provides visitors doors to pay their respects to
with access to the Virgin and Child, whose
one of the most figures are set above the clock.
spectacular views At the very top are two huge
across Venice. bronze figures, known as the
Mori, or Moors, which strike
the bell on the hour.
The Loggetta
was built in the The allegorical 3 Basilica San
16th century reliefs from Verona Marco
by Jacopo depict Justice
Sansovino. representing Venice, See pp82–7.
Its Classical Jupiter as Crete and
sculptures Venus as Cyprus. All
celebrate the were carefully rebuilt 4 Doge’s Palace
glory of the after the Campanile’s
Republic. collapse in 1902. See pp88–93.

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