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The 'Moors' of Venice

28/5/2019

 
Walking Tours of Venice
The Two Moors, Torre dell'Orologio, Venice
The Two 'Moors', Torre dell' Orologio

For more than 500 years, the two 'Moors', the name given (in the 18th century) to the pair of bronze bell-jacks in the Torre dell’ Orologio (Clock Tower), have been dutifully striking the passing hours.

The bell-jacks were originally nicknamed li doi ziganti (the two giants), on account of their size (2.6 metres). Sporting nothing more than short woollen tunics, the bell-jacks are, in fact, two shepherds, one old and bearded, the other young and clean-shaven. It is thought that the figures, who symbolise the passing of time, were cast by Sigismondo I Alberghetti in 1497/8. 

Torre dell' Orologio, Venice
Torre dell' Orologio

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    Blogging about Venice:
    ​its art, history & culture. 

    My name is David Lown and I am an art historian from Cambridge, England.

    Since 200I I have been living in Italy, where I run
    ​ private tours of Florence, Rome &
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  • Private Tours
    • Private Tours of Rome
    • Private Tours of Florence
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  • Contact
  • Rome
  • Vatican
  • Florence
  • Venice
  • Tuscany
  • Gallery
  • Year in Art