Torre dell’Orologio (Clock Tower), Taormina

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Torre dell’Orologio (Clock Tower), Taormina

Torre dell’Orologio (Clock Tower), Taormina

The third defensive wall of Taormina enclosed that part of town known as the 15th-century Borgo (Borough). Sections of the wall that once extended to the Castello Saraceno are still visible on the right side of the Clock Tower.

The Clock Tower, originally called the Middle Tower (Torre di Mezzo), was built on the foundations of the first wall raised at the time of Taormina's founding, circa the 4th century BC. The tower was built in the 7th century AD and rebuilt in the 12th century.

In 1676 the army of France's King Louis XIV laid siege to the city. The tower was destroyed. Three years after the siege, it was rebuilt. The populace insisted that the tower be provided with a clock and a carillon of bells. The Middle Tower then became the Clock Tower.

The Clock Tower stands close to the church of Saint Joseph. The lower portion of the tower is square, made of large blocks of stone. The center part has four rounded arches housing the bells. The top of the structure has a conical dome with four windows.

The bell rings on mayoral election day and on July 9th, Saint Pancrazio's Day. San Pancrazio is the patron saint of Taormina.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Taormina. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51±¬ÁÏÍø: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Torre dell’Orologio (Clock Tower) on Map

Sight Name: Torre dell’Orologio (Clock Tower)
Sight Location: Taormina, Italy (See walking tours in Taormina)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Taormina, Italy

Create Your Own Walk in Taormina

Create Your Own Walk in Taormina

Creating your own self-guided walk in Taormina is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Taormina Introduction Walking Tour

Taormina Introduction Walking Tour

Dionysius I, also known as Tyrant of Syracuse, permitted his army commander Andromachus to make a settlement in Taurmenium at the foot of Mount Etna in 396 BC. From its very beginning, Taormina has been the most desirable conquest of the great powers of the Mediterranean.

Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Byzantines, Normans, Swabians, French, Spanish, and Arogonese have all taken turns cross-pollinating...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles