In Garibaldi Square, the Civic Tower stands out with its bulk. Probably built between the 1220s and 1240s (by the Da Romano family), the most likely date is 1312 when, on the occasion of the extension of the second ring of walls, it became an important defensive and protective feature for the new borough grown outside the walls. 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. From this moment on, it was registered to the Municipality, which took care of maintenance and payment of the guards. The guards performed various tasks, but the main duty was to keep watch from above to announce riots, disasters, or threats of assault.
The name by which we know it, “Civic Tower,” was given when a stone door was opened at the base in 1494, with the city’s coat of arms painted above it. In 1625, the door was reopened to provide light to the custodian’s dwelling and connected to the ground with a wooden staircase whose steps were partially replaced by stone ones in 1727. The year when the Venetian emblem was painted in fresco as an honorary title is unknown. During the 18th century, it was equipped with a clock, and in the 19th century, a pinnacle was added to the top. Certainly, the tower stands out particularly compared to all other historic city buildings due to its centrality in the urban layout and its dominating height (43 meters). After a recent and significant restoration, it has been reopened to the public.
Information about Civic Tower
Garibaldi Square,
36061 Bassano del Grappa (Vicenza)
0424519901
info@museobassano.it
https://www.comune.bassano.vi.it
Source: MIBACT
