Messina astronomical clock

38°11′32.14″N 15°33′16.84″E / 38.1922611°N 15.5546778°E / 38.1922611; 15.5546778

The tower of Messina Cathedral containing the astronomical clock

The astronomical clock of Messina is an astronomical clock constructed by the Ungerer Company of Strasbourg in 1933. It is built into the campanile of Messina Cathedral.

The mechanism was designed by Frédéric Klinghammer, with the artistic design based on plans by Théodore Ungerer. Parts of the design are similar to the Strasbourg astronomical clock. The idea was to restore the ancient astronomical clock of the old medieval bell tower of the cathedral of Messina, destroyed in previous eras. It was commissioned by the Archbishop of Messina (Angelo Paino) to mark the reconstruction of the campanile after the 1908 Messina earthquake, perhaps on inspiration of Pope Pius XI, who gave him a functioning model of the Strasbourg clock.[1]

The clock's displays appear in several different levels of the campanile, on the sides facing the square and the cathedral.

  1. ^ Caruso, Enzo. "Un dono di Papa Pio XI ispira l'orologio del Campanile di Messina" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2019.