Clock Tower

Category: Civil Architecture > Tower

District: Lisboa > Sintra > Sintra > Santa Maria e São Miguel

Location

The Clock Tower stands distinctly in the heart of Sintra village, in the parish of Santa Maria e São Miguel. It is strategically positioned between buildings of great historical value, namely what once housed the medieval Casa da Câmara (Town Hall) and the old prison building. Its presence is a central element in the urban landscape, visible from various points in the old part of the village.

Memory and History

The history of the Clock Tower dates back to the 15th century, when there was already a concern in the village with maintaining a public clock. Although ancient records are scarce regarding its exact location or initial foundation, the tower we know today, with its striking features, was likely built in the second half of the 18th century. It is probable that this construction occurred after the great earthquake of 1755, which caused significant damage to many structures of the time, and that its erection was promoted by figures such as the Marquis of Pombal. Traces of an earlier construction, of medieval design, can still be observed inside, suggesting a long history of public presence and function at this site.

Throughout the centuries, the Clock Tower maintained its vocation as a time marker. Its bells, some dated 1773, 1791, and 1882, testify to the continuous evolution and adaptation of the structure. The first unambiguous mention of the tower's clock in documents appears as early as the beginning of the 19th century, indicating that the clock mechanism was a later addition to the tower's construction, being repaired and maintained over the decades.

Architectural Aspects

The Clock Tower features a robust quadrangular-plan construction, developing vertically with a towering volume. Its top is crowned by a curvilinear spire, surmounted by a finial and an iron weathercock. Along its four registers, the cornerstones on the sides stand out, lending stability and elegance to the structure.

At its top, each of the tower's four faces displays a clock, surmounted by small curvilinear pediments, allowing the time to be read from various directions. The upper register is pierced by four arched belfries, each housing a bell, whose chimes punctuated village life for generations. Although its front face is the most visible, the tower harmoniously integrates with the adjacent buildings, part of Sintra's old administrative and social center.

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