 Introduction
The tower is also a Venetian favorite and has sparked such sayings as punto di incontro, or meet me at the tower. The clocktower serves as an entryway to the ancient Mercerie, the principal retail street of Venice. From fancy boutiques to tiny tourist shops, this street leads to the Rialto Bridge.
Many changes have been made to the clock throughout its many years of operation. Not all of the changes have been popular. Renato and Franco Zamberlan published an article in 2001 accusing Brusa and Gorla of poor choices, unsound restoration methodology and inappropriate workmanship. The restoration was also criticized by Alberto Peratoner, the last temperatore. More recently, the clock has once again been restored, but only back to its original appearance.
Guided tours are available daily, from 9am til 3:30pm. The tour is included in the admission price of 12 euros.
History
The clock was inaugurated on February 1, 1497. The Venetian Government paid for a temperatore to maintain the functioning of the clock and for he and his family to live within the tower. Raineri was the first temperatore, and led the way for many different generations of the same family to take on the role. This position was finally abolished in 1998.
Repairs and restorations have taken place fairly frequently. Restorations first took place in 1551 by Giuseppe Mazzoleni. In 1615, Giovanni Battista Santi almost completely replaced the clock mechanism. In 1858, the clock was restored by Luigi De Lucia. In 1996, a major restoration took place by Giuseppe Brusa and Alberto Gorla. This was maybe the most controversial of changes with allegations of poor workmanship. In 1857 the integrity of the clock was compromised when Luigi de Lucia started another restoration and added a digital display. Some changes were due to external conditions, such as the 1915 change where the complex 132 strike mechanism was disabled, due to the wartime curfew.
In 1996, another restoration was initiated, funded by watchmakers Piaget. The Venetian authorities chose Giuseppe Brusa, historian, and Alberto Gorla, clock mechanic, to complete the work. The clock now displays the original I to XXIIII numbering around the outside, with I at the right hand side. The signs of the zodiac are in anticlockwise order around the inner zodiac dial. The original clock mechanism has been dismantled and restored by Brusa and Gorla and put on display in the Ducal Palace in 2001.
Location
Address:
Piazza San Marco
Venice, Italy 30124
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St. Mark's Clock
