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Torre dell'Orologio Review

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Torre dell'Orologio

  • Address: Northern side of Piazza San Marco, Venice

Fodor's Review:

Erected between 1496 and 1499, the Clock Tower has an enameled timepiece and animated Moorish figures that strike the hour. On Epiphany (January 6) and during Ascension Week (40 days after Easter), an angel and three wise men go in and out of the doors and bow to the Virgin Mary. The complicated clock mechanism also indicates the phase of the moon and the path of the sun across the signs of the zodiac. If the tower's inscription is true -- horas non numero nisi serenas ("I only count happy hours") -- then perhaps happy times may again come to Venice if they ever manage to fix the clock; it's been under restoration since 1999 and completion has been set for 2006. You can however visit the famous three wise men on the ground floor of Palazzo Ducale where parts of the clock are on display.

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