Museological Nucleus of Time (Torre das Cabaças/Clock Tower)

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Santarém > Santarém > Santarém > Marvila

Location:

The Torre das Cabaças is located in Largo Zeferino Sarmento, a central and historic area of the city of Santarém. It imposes its presence on the square, standing out in the urban landscape and marking the local environment, an easily identifiable landmark for those strolling through the historic center.

A Historical and Architectural Legacy

This imposing building is a notable vestige of the defensive system that protected Santarém, with its origins in the 15th century. It features a robust quadrangular shape, rising approximately 22 meters high and exhibiting elements of the late-Gothic architecture of the period. Although most of the original structures it was connected to, such as the ancient walls and the City Council Senate building, have long disappeared, the tower has remained standing, bearing witness to centuries of history. Over time, it received additions, such as the Mannerist cornice in the 17th century, which attempted to give it a more refined appearance.

The Story Behind the Name

The popular designation "Torre das Cabaças" (Gourds Tower) comes from a particular feature at its top. There is an iron frame where eight objects are arranged, which are believed to have originally been gourds, but are now ceramic vessels. The function of these elements was to improve the acoustics of the clock bell, helping to project its sound over a greater distance. However, popular imagination created a more colorful explanation: it is said that the gourds represented the "hollow heads" of the councilors of the time who ordered the tower's construction, in a humorous reference to their apparent lack of judgment or intelligence.

The Museum of Time

Beyond its history and architecture, the tower continues to serve as the city's Clock Tower to this day. Inside, following a restoration project carried out in 1999, the Museum of Time (Núcleo Museológico do Tempo) was installed. This space offers visitors an interesting exhibition dedicated to the theme of time measurement, showcasing objects and information on the evolution of measuring instruments throughout the centuries. It is an opportunity to explore this fundamental concept of human life in a unique historical setting.

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