Dubrovnik Bell Tower

The Dubrovnik Bell Tower (Croatian: Gradski zvonik) is a tower in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Located on Luža Square at the end of the Stradun, the tower is 31 metres high.[1]

Originally constructed in 1444, the tower suffered damage in the 1667 Dubrovnik earthquake[1] among other earthquakes and, having started to lean towards the Stradun in the early 19th century, it was demolished in 1928[2] and entirely rebuilt to the original design in 1929.[1] It was damaged again in the 1979 Montenegro earthquake, and restored in 1987–1988.[3]

The bronze bell which strikes the hours was cast in 1506 by Ivan Rabljanin.[4]

The two bronze jacquemarts which strike the bell are known as Maro and Baro, or the Zelenci (green ones), due to their green patina. The present Zelenci are replicas installed in the rebuilt tower in 1929. The original Zelenci of circa 1478 are now exhibited in the Cultural History Museum in the Rector's Palace.[5]

  1. ^ a b c Thomas, Mark (10 September 2017). "Discover Dubrovnik – the city bell tower". The Dubrovnik Times. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  2. ^ "City Bell Tower". Dubrovnik Digest. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  3. ^ "City Bell-tower". Institute for Restoration of Dubrovnik. Archived from the original on 17 February 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  4. ^ "The bell maker Ivan Krstitelj Rabljanin". rab-visit.com. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  5. ^ "The Story of the Dubrovnik Bronze Jacks". Croatian Conservation Institute. Retrieved 21 March 2020.