Torrazzo di Cremona (Museo Verticale)

The Torrazzo rises beside Cremona Cathedral on Piazza del Comune. About 112 metres tall, the brick bell tower combines medieval architecture, a Renaissance astronomical clock and a museum devoted to time and astronomy.

Why it matters

The tower is a major symbol of Cremona. Its different building phases and later clock show how a medieval religious landmark acquired a wider civic and scientific role.

What to notice

The lower Romanesque structure contrasts with the octagonal upper section and pointed summit. The astronomical dial represents celestial movements and lunar phases. Seven bells include one dedicated to Sant'Omobono, Cremona's patron. The Museo Verticale explores the clock's mechanism, historical instruments of time measurement and astronomy; its Foucault pendulum demonstrates the Earth's rotation.

Context and history

The Romanesque tower dates to the thirteenth century, and the upper construction was probably completed in 1305. The summit ball and cross were added in the seventeenth century. The astronomical clock was installed in 1583, while its dial was repainted in 1970. The Museo Verticale opened in late 2018, adding an interpretation of scientific history to the tower's architectural story.