Clock Tower of Figueira da Foz

Category: Military Architecture > Tower

District: Coimbra > Figueira da Foz > Figueira da Foz

Location

The Clock Tower stands in the city of Figueira da Foz, marking a distinct presence by the sea, next to the vast Figueira da Foz Beach. It is located in the heart of Bairro Novo, an area that developed with the city's growth, offering an urban setting where it stands out for its prominent and accessible position.

Its silhouette contributes to the visual identity of the Figueira da Foz waterfront, serving as an easily identifiable landmark for those exploring the coastal area and the surrounding urban landscape. Its proximity to the beach allows for an unobstructed view and enhances its integration into the maritime scenery.

Architecture and Design

Designed in the context of Figueira da Foz's modernization, the construction of the Clock Tower was approved in 1942, and the work was completed in 1947, with its official inauguration taking place in 1950. The project was authored by architect João António de Aguiar, in collaboration with engineers Henrique Óscar Ferreira and José Nunes da Costa Redondo.

With a height of 23 meters, the tower is distinguished by its modernist style and a particular construction method. Its structure was built using reinforced concrete and brick masonry, elements that, together, give the tower its solidity and uniqueness. Its name comes from the clocks that adorn it: a sundial, installed in 1949, and a mechanical clock, added in the 1970s.

Significance and History

The emergence of the Clock Tower is part of a period of urban expansion and requalification in Figueira da Foz, especially with the regularization of Avenida Marginal. Its design generated controversy at the time, with differing opinions on its impact on the landscape: while some considered it an "aggression" to the harmony of the space, its defenders argued that the tower was essential to break the horizontality of the beach and frame the development of the avenue.

Although one of the original intentions was for it to serve as maritime signaling, this function was never implemented. However, the Clock Tower played a role in local communication by broadcasting radio emissions from the tourist office that once existed in Esplanada Silva Guimarães. Since 2004, it has been recognized as a Property of Municipal Interest, a status that highlights its heritage value and its cultural importance to Figueira da Foz.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt