Torre della Ghirlandina
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Cathedral, Torre Civica and Piazza Grande, Modena* | |
|---|---|
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
 |
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| State Party |  Italy |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | i, ii, iii, iv |
| Reference | 827 |
| Region† | Europe and North America |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 1997 (21st Session) |
| * Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. † Region as classified by UNESCO. |
|
The Torre della Ghirlandinais the bell tower of the Cathedral of Modena, in Emilia-Romagna, Italy.
Standing at 86.12 metres, the tower is the traditional symbol of Modena, being visible from all directions outside the city.
The structure was set up in 1179 on five floors, initially called Torre di San Geminiano. To compete with Bologna's towers, the commune added the characteristic octagonal cusp, designed by Arrigo da Campione, one of the numerous masters from Campione who took part in the cathedral's renovation in the 13th-15th centuries. The top of the tower is decorated with two ghirlande (two marble railings), whence the name.
In the interior, the Sala della Secchia room (with 15th century frescoes) is home of of a copy of the depiction of the Secchia rapita, a memory of the tower's former role as treasury of the Modenese commune. Also notable are the sculpted capitals in the Sala dei Torresani hall, in the fifth floor. And unique is the panorama enjoyable from the top.
[edit] Restoration
Currently the tower is undergoing restorations: they started in December 2007 and should be finished by the end of 2010. During the works, the scaffoldings will be hidden behind an artistic screen painted by the Italian scupltor Mimmo Paladino. Nevertheless, this choice has caused perplexity in the town, given the high cost of the operation and the very idea of it.
[edit] Source
This article was originally a translation of this version of it:Ghirlandina from the Italian-language Wikipedia and the Emilian e Rumagnòl-language Wikipedia eml:Ghirlandèina.
