Torre dell’Orologio

Now that the Two Towers are closed, the city has restored the 13th-century Clock Tower looming over the Piazza Maggiore in the Palazzo d’Accursio (which also houses the Collezioni Comunali d’Arte). You can visit both the lower and upper terrace on top of the clock mechanism.

Note there is no lifts.

At one point wooden automatons used to come out every hour from a small door, and paraded in front of the image of a Madonna with Child; in in 1492, however, the city lit fireworks on top of the tower to celebrate the ascension to the papacy of Roderigo Borgia (Alexander VI) only it caught on fire and ruined the original top.

The bell in the tower rings the exact hour, and repeats it a minute later in case you weren’t paying attention (except at night, so the locals can sleep).

Practical Info

Piazza Maggiore 6

Open daily: three timeslots per hour (at 00, at 20 and at 40), book online (if you want to see the Collezioni Comunali d’Arte (combined adm €10, €7 ages 4 to 12 & over 65) be sure to book at time when it too is open).

Jan—9 May: first entrance at 10am, last at 6:20pm

10 May—21 Sept: first entrance at 10am, last at 8:20pm

22 Sept—31 Dec: first entrance at 10am, last at 6:20pm