From the corner of Arco (the intersection of Via Fillungo and Via Roma), between the tall buildings, a sliver of blue sky with the Torre delle Ore. On the tower, the face of the large eighteenth-century clock and at the top, the covered bell tower and the weathervane bearing the inscription "libertas" (liberty).

Tower of the Hours

The Torre delle Ore, at 50 meters, is the tallest tower in the city. Originally owned by the Quartigiani family, it was purchased in 1490 by the General Council of Lucca to mark the secular time of the people of Lucca according to Roman custom: bells strike both the hours and the quarters of each hour thanks to a precision mechanism located on the penultimate floor of the tower.

Today only two remain: the Torre delle Ore and the Guinigi TowerThe others were "cut off" or demolished during the 16th century, some even collapsing due to their excessive height. Power struggles between families also imposed the challenge of having the tallest tower: honor and prestige for its wealthy patron, who was consequently more esteemed and respected. Above a certain height, however, the tower often collapsed, to the mockery of the owner and great satisfaction of the opposing families.

It is also called Lite Tower, because it is contested by two historic rival families, the Neighborhoods and several, who for years disputed ownership of it. In 1490 to put an end to the controversial dispute and for the importance of the tower, which with its clock marked the time of the city, the Republic of Lucca he bought it from the Diversi family, who in the meantime had become its sole owners.

Climbing the 207 steps of the wooden staircase you reach the bell tower

And there, from the large arched windows, you can admire a splendid view from above: the austere buildings and narrow streets, the red roofs and church bell towers, and in the distance the hills and mountains that frame the city. Immediately below, inside, you can see the actual clock, an eighteenth-century mechanism with perfect gears that regulate the number of chimes. One of the most interesting examples still in working order in Europe.

The first clock was placed in the 1390, made by a great master goldsmith of the time, Lambruccio Cerlotti: it marked the hours with the sole tolling of a bell. A century later, a dial was added, making the passage of time visible as well as audible.

In 1752 the Geneva watchmaker Louis Simon He was commissioned to create a modern mechanism, the one we can still see today. Two years later, a new dial was installed, the work of the Lucca clockmaker. Sigismondo Caturegli and three new bells, cast by another Lucchese, Stefano Filippi.

The hours are struck "alla Romana" (a day divided into four six-hour periods) and are marked by the largest bell, while the quarter hours are tolled by the two smaller bells. In the second half of the 18th century, the Roman timekeeping was replaced by the so-called "alla Francese" time, the one used today. The Lucca clock, however, continues to strike the six hours: one stroke, two, three, four, five, six, then repeat four times.

On the roof, an iron weather vane with the motto Libertas and the date: 1754.