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About
Palazzo dell’Orologio, or Clock Palace, is a small palace located in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, in the historical center of Polignano a Mare.
The palace is located a few meters away from the Church of St. Mary’s Assumption (Chiesa Matrice Santa Maria Assunta), the former Cathedral of Polignano a Mare.
SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO DELL’OROLOGIO
The palace has medieval origins, and was, originally, part of a convent for nuns.
Palazzo dell’Orologio was repurposed over time, and eventually became the seat of the city’s Town Hall.
The two ground floor rooms were used as a warehouse for a while and, later, the room in the back was converted into a prison, as attested by the grating which is still visible in Via Tanese Innocente.
In the second half of the 18th century, a clock was added to the facade, replacing an old sundial. A small part of the sundial is still visible today, under the clock.
ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO DELL’OROLOGIO
The palace is built on three floors, with a facade embelished by decorations in Rococo style, particularly visible around windows, which hide the medieval origins of the building.
Between the two windows of the first floor, under the clock, we can find the town’s coat of arms.
Above the clock, in a niche, there is the statue of San Vito, the patron saint of Polignano a Mare. The statue is surmounted by a beautiful bell-gable.
THE CLOCK OF PALAZZO DELL’OROLOGIO
In the past, the clock itself was wound manually by the town’s caretaker, a tradition that continued for centuries.
This responsibility was integral to the town’s daily rhythm, with residents relying on the clock for a sense of time in a pre-digital era.
The tradition of manual winding is a quaint reminder of simpler times and the importance of communal roles in small-town Italian life.
HOW TO GET TO PALAZZO DELL’OROLOGIO
Palazzo dell’Orologio is located about 750 meters away from the Polignano a Mare railway station. To find it on foot, use the map below.
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