Front of the fortress (15th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
Marking the time has always been a need: in the village the tower of the Rocca had this function.
The castle in Fontanellato is one of the few ones with a visible clock on its front.
Clock in the main entrance tower (17th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
In the middle of the 17th Century Alessandro planned to build the tower clock with a single hand.
The clock quadrant indicates the hours with roman numerals, the half-hours with lily lances and the quarters of an hour with simple lines.
The main tower (17th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
The motion is contained in the main tower.
Entrance in the main tower (17th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
Today the main tower is closed to the visit.
The gear of the clock (17th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
The mechanism is peculiar and beats the time in a totally unique and original way
The back of the clock (17th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
The head is actioned trough an inside clock, a dial that allowed the adjustment
The pulleys of the clock (17th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
The movement was guaranteed by pulleys...
The weights of the clock (17th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
... and weights
The bells (17th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
In the village the time was beated from the top of the main tower through bells: one for the hours, one for the half-hours, one for the quarters of hour.
Corner with desk (17th century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
But in the castle it wasn’t the only time measuring instrument: the hourglass was another system…
The chairs (18th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
... as the clock for the guests in the reception hall
Pendulum clock (19th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
… or the pendulum clock in the Sala delle Armi
The sundial in the Garden of the Stables (19th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
It was useful to know what time it was in the park, too. Maybe for a snack?
