The Torrazzo is the bell tower of the Cathedral of Cremona, Lombardy, in northern Italy.The Torrazzo measures 112.54 metres. And is known as the third tallest brick bell tower.
The Torrazzo measures 112.54 metres (369+1⁄4 ft),[1] and it is known as the third tallest brickwork bell tower in the world, the first being the tower of St. Martin's Church in Landshut, Bavaria, and the second at the Church of Our Lady in Bruges, Belgium. However, the Torrazzo (completed in 1309) is older than the Landshut tower (completed in 1500) and the Bruges tower (completed in 1465), and it is the oldest brick structure taller than 100 m that is still standing.
According to popular tradition, construction on the tower began in 754. In reality, it was built in four phases: a first dating back to the 1230s, up to the third dripstone, a second, between 1250 and 1267, up to the dripstone under the quadriphore, a third around 1284, and the completion of the marble spire in 1309.
Its height is announced by a plaque embedded in the wall at the base of the Torrazzo itself, stating 250 arms and 2 ounces, which in the ancient measuring system of the Lombard towns translates to approximately 111 metres.
Archaeological excavations made in the 1980s have discovered the presence of underlying structures which are supposed to be the remains of a more ancient churchyard (or a cemetery associated to it), or even previous Roman buildings.
At the fourth storey of the Torrazzo resides the largest astronomical clock in the world. The clock dial has a diameter of 8.20 metres (27 ft).
The mechanism was built by Francesco and Giovan Battista Divizioli (father and son) between 1583 and 1588. The exterior, originally painted by Paolo Scazzola in 1483 but later repainted many times, including by Giovanni Battista Dordoni, represents the sky with zodiac constellations and the Sun and Moon moving through them.
The clock hands are five (actually, they are four because one of them is a double), and they have the main function of representing a lot of astronomical phenomena, such as Lunar phases, solstices, equinoxes and eclipsis.
The Bells
The Torrazzo is formed by seven bells, all tuned in the scale of A major. There is also another bell, called the "Ringing Bell", used to strike the hour.
References
^Official Document of the Research conducted by the Politecnico di Milano 2013-10-05 at the Wayback Machine
Sources
Galeati, G. (1928). Il Torrazzo di Cremona. Cremona.
Saracino, M.T. (1978). Il Torrazzo ed il suo restauro. Cremona.
Loffi, F. (1987). Il Torrazzo di Cremona. Cremona.
Ghidotti, P. Il Torrazzo di Cremona. Archeologia e storia di un monumento medievale.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Torrazzo (Cremona).
January 10, 2023
torrazzo, cremona, torrazzo, bell, tower, cathedral, cremona, lombardy, northern, italy, torrazzo, measures, metres, known, third, tallest, brick, bell, tower, religionaffiliationcatholic, churchregionlombardylocationlocationcremonamunicipalitycomune, cremonas. The Torrazzo is the bell tower of the Cathedral of Cremona Lombardy in northern Italy The Torrazzo measures 112 54 metres And is known as the third tallest brick bell tower Torrazzo of CremonaReligionAffiliationCatholic ChurchRegionLombardyLocationLocationCremonaMunicipalityComune di CremonaStateItalyGeographic coordinates45 08 02 N 10 01 31 E 45 133758 N 10 025159 E 45 133758 10 025159 Coordinates 45 08 02 N 10 01 31 E 45 133758 N 10 025159 E 45 133758 10 025159ArchitectureStyleRomanesque and GothicGroundbreaking1230Completed1309Height max 112 54 metres 369 2 ft Websitehttps museoverticale itThe Torrazzo measures 112 54 metres 369 1 4 ft 1 and it is known as the third tallest brickwork bell tower in the world the first being the tower of St Martin s Church in Landshut Bavaria and the second at the Church of Our Lady in Bruges Belgium However the Torrazzo completed in 1309 is older than the Landshut tower completed in 1500 and the Bruges tower completed in 1465 and it is the oldest brick structure taller than 100 m that is still standing According to popular tradition construction on the tower began in 754 In reality it was built in four phases a first dating back to the 1230s up to the third dripstone a second between 1250 and 1267 up to the dripstone under the quadriphore a third around 1284 and the completion of the marble spire in 1309 Its height is announced by a plaque embedded in the wall at the base of the Torrazzo itself stating 250 arms and 2 ounces which in the ancient measuring system of the Lombard towns translates to approximately 111 metres Archaeological excavations made in the 1980s have discovered the presence of underlying structures which are supposed to be the remains of a more ancient churchyard or a cemetery associated to it or even previous Roman buildings Contents 1 The Astronomical Clock 2 The Bells 3 References 4 Sources 5 External linksThe Astronomical Clock Edit Astronomical clock At the fourth storey of the Torrazzo resides the largest astronomical clock in the world The clock dial has a diameter of 8 20 metres 27 ft The mechanism was built by Francesco and Giovan Battista Divizioli father and son between 1583 and 1588 The exterior originally painted by Paolo Scazzola in 1483 but later repainted many times including by Giovanni Battista Dordoni represents the sky with zodiac constellations and the Sun and Moon moving through them The clock hands are five actually they are four because one of them is a double and they have the main function of representing a lot of astronomical phenomena such as Lunar phases solstices equinoxes and eclipsis The Bells EditThe Torrazzo is formed by seven bells all tuned in the scale of A major There is also another bell called the Ringing Bell used to strike the hour References Edit Official Document of the Research conducted by the Politecnico di Milano Archived 2013 10 05 at the Wayback MachineSources EditGaleati G 1928 Il Torrazzo di Cremona Cremona Saracino M T 1978 Il Torrazzo ed il suo restauro Cremona Loffi F 1987 Il Torrazzo di Cremona Cremona Ghidotti P Il Torrazzo di Cremona Archeologia e storia di un monumento medievale External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Torrazzo Cremona Cremona Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Torrazzo of Cremona amp oldid 1132141302, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
