In Piazza Garibaldi, the Civic Tower stands out with its massiveness. Probably built between the 1320s and 1340s (by the Da Romano family), the most likely date is 1312 when, on the occasion of the extension of the city walls of the second ring, it became an important defensive and protective element for the new settlement developed outside the walls. In fact, it was distinguished by its significant height, width, and thickness of the masonry body, the powerful truncated pyramid base, and the lack of decorations. It appears in documentation in 1349 when a 500-kilogram bell was placed inside. From that moment on, it was officially owned by the Municipality, which took care of maintenance and payment of the guards. The guards had various duties, but their main task was to keep watch from the top to announce riots, disasters, or threats of attack.
The name “Civic Tower” was given to it since 1494, when a stone door with the city’s coat of arms painted above was opened at its base. In 1625, the door was pierced above to provide light to the guard’s residence and connected to the ground by a wooden staircase whose steps were partially replaced by stone ones in 1727. It is not known when the honorary emblem of Venice was painted as a fresco. In the 18th century, it was equipped with a clock, and in the 19th century, the upper summit extension was added. Certainly, the tower stands out distinctly from all other historic city buildings for its central location within the urban layout and for dominating it with its height (43 meters). After a recent and significant restoration, it has been reopened to the public.
Information about Civic Tower
Piazza Garibaldi,
36061 Bassano del Grappa (Vicenza)
0424519901
info@museobassano.it
https://www.comune.bassano.vi.it
Source: MIBACT
