Torre dell'Orologio
The Torre dell'Orologio (English: The Clock Tower, also known as Saint Mark's Clocktower) was one of the landmarks that bordered the Piazza di San Marco in the Italian city of Venice.
History
Constructed in the late 15th Century as a display of Venice's wealth, the Torre dell'Orologio displays the time of day, the current phase of the moon, and the dominant sign of the Zodiac.
According to legend, the designers of the clock face were blinded once their work was complete, so they could never duplicate it elsewhere. While this is probably false, the designers did live inside the clock tower for the rest of their lives to maintain it.
The Torre dell'Orologio ended up serving one very important practical purpose; it was used by sailors in the nearby harbor to time their departures with the tides.
Trivia
- A glyph is located here.