It is the highest medieval masonry bell tower in Europe (about 112.22 m)... #tuttitaly
Next to the Cathedral of Cremona is the Torrazzo, the city's symbol and one of Europe's highest owers: 112.54 m high. It consists of two towers inserted into each other, and to reach the top, you have to climb a staircase of 502 steps. The interesting fact is that to avoid confusion, and since the stairs are narrow, traffic lights must be respected uphill and downhill.
The development of the construction of the tower is divided into four phases:
a first, dating back to the third decade of the thirteenth century, up to the third string course; a second one in 1250 -1267, up to the cornice below the four-light window; a third towards 1284, as a connection for the fourth phase, represented by the marble spire (garland) completed by 1309.
The Torrazzo is not considered a unique monument of its kind only from an architectural point of view: its astronomical clock is regarded as one of the greatest masterpieces of ancient mechanics. Furthermore, since November 2018, it has hosted the Vertical Museum, which is dedicated to measuring time.
The clock has a diameter of 8.20m and is even more significant than London's Big Ben clock (6.85m).
Built by the Cremonese Francesco and Giovan Battista Divizioli between 1583 and 1588, the clock is entirely mechanical and must be wound daily.
The dial is equipped with five hands capable of representing many astronomical phenomena: including the phases of the moon, the solstices and the equinoxes, the entry of the sun into the constellations, the position of the lunar holes, and the Eclipses (indicated by the hand of the dragon, of which the head and tail are observed).
The history of the human perception of time is illustrated in the Room of the Measurement of Time through the reconstruction of ancient measuring instruments, various types of clocks, and engaging multimedia content. Also exhibited is the reduced-scale rebuilding of the "Artifice of Toledo," the most famous work of the talented Cremonese engineer Janello Torriani (1500-1585).
The Astronomy Room is dedicated to the study of celestial bodies.
Inside is a fantastic installation of Foucault's pendulum, whose oscillation is the scientific demonstration of the rotation of the Earth.
Finally, reaching the top of the tower, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the city. On evident days, the splendid panorama stretches from the plain, where Po flows slowly, to the snow-capped Alps.
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