St Mark’s Clock Tower

The Clock Tower

A stop on the Venice audio-guided tour, the Clock Tower, on the left side of St Mark's Square, is a jewel of art and mechanics. Built in the fifteenth century by order of the Senate of the Republic, it marks the passage from the great square to the commercial alleys of the Merceries.

An astronomical dial

Above the arch, the dial of gold and midnight-blue enamel marks the hours, the phases of the moon, the course of the sun and the seasons. Higher up, a niche shelters a statue of the Virgin and Child. During the week of Epiphany or Ascension, visitors can watch the procession of the Magi, who file past the Virgin.

What to see

At the top of the tower, two bronze figures, nicknamed the Moors, strike the bell to sound the hours. A true masterpiece of the Venetian Renaissance, the Clock Tower can be discovered through guided tours that reveal its mechanisms.

Practical information

The Clock Tower is on St Mark's Square, in Venice. The interior visit is accompanied; days, hours and access conditions should be checked depending on the season.

What does the Clock Tower's dial mark ?

The hours, the phases of the moon, the course of the sun and the seasons.

Who sounds the hours at the top of the tower ?

Two bronze figures nicknamed the Moors, who strike the bell.