Torre dell'Orologio
Last updated on September 7, 2026Overview
The clock tower over Piazza dei Signori carries one of the oldest astronomical clocks in Europe, first built in 1344 and rebuilt in 1428 after the original was destroyed. Its gilded dial shows the hour, the phase of the moon and the sun's position in the zodiac -- and it shows only eleven zodiac signs, which is what most people end up talking about.
Quick Facts
- Type: Monument
- Local name: Torre dell'Orologio (vedi la pagina italiana)
- Built: 1344
- One of the oldest astronomical clocks: Built by Jacopo Dondi in 1344 and rebuilt in 1428 after a revolt destroyed the original mechanism.
- A dial without Libra: Eleven zodiac signs appear instead of twelve, which has attracted explanations for six centuries.
Visit Responsibly
Standing back in the square is the only way to see the dial properly, and it is a public space with no charge and no crowding problem.
The mechanism is medieval and still running; interior visits are small-group by necessity rather than exclusivity.
Where it is
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Plan Your Visit
The dial is visible free from the square at any hour. Interior visits to the mechanism run occasionally rather than daily and are usually booked through the city's museum service. The tower sits in the ZTL, fifteen minutes on foot from the railway station.
When to Visit
Daylight, and preferably sun -- the dial is gilded and reads poorly under the flat grey of a Po Valley winter.
The square below is busiest in the early evening, which is pleasant for atmosphere and unhelpful for photography.