Torre dell'Orologio

Udine's Clock Tower rises above the Loggia of San Giovanni on Piazza della Libertà. Its dial and two bell-striking figures, traditionally known as the Moors, form a distinctive part of the square's Renaissance architecture.

Why it matters

The earthquake of 1511 deprived Udine of its public clock. Giovanni da Udine presented the replacement tower's design in 1527, and work was completed in 1532. The monument restored a civic function while giving the square a lasting visual emblem.

What to notice

The clock face sits below the bell and the two striking figures. The tower belongs to the architectural composition of the Loggia and Tempietto of San Giovanni. Cut stone was concentrated on the principal facade, corner blocks and entablatures to contain construction costs, leaving the building's economy visible in its materials.

Context and history

In 1543 a craftsman recorded as mastro Adamo supplied wooden figures to strike the hours. Later replacements continued this sculptural and mechanical tradition. The contrast between the visible figures and the movement operating behind them gives the tower a character that is both architectural and technological.