Clock Tower of Ateca facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clock Tower of Ateca |
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| Native name Spanish: Torre del Reloj de Ateca |
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| Location | Ateca, Spain |
| Type | Non-movable |
| Criteria | Bien Catalogado of the Aragonese Cultural Heritage |
| Designated | January 12, 1983 |
| Reference no. | 1-INM-ZAR-020-038-004 |
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The Clock Tower of Ateca is a cool old building in Ateca, a town in Spain. It's a bit of a leaning tower, meaning it tilts slightly, just like the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa! This tower was built in 1560. It shows off a special style called Mudéjar, which mixes Christian and Islamic art.
The tower was built on top of an even older medieval tower from the castle of Ateca. Two skilled builders, Domingo and Ameçot (who was a Morisco, a Muslim who converted to Christianity), worked on it. They added beautiful Renaissance designs while keeping the traditional Mudéjar look.
What it Looks Like
The Clock Tower of Ateca was built in 1560. Its main purpose was to hold a clock. This clock would help the townspeople keep track of time. It was probably inspired by the Torre Nueva in Zaragoza, which had a similar job. The clock itself was made in 1561 by Johan Escalante.
The tower has two main parts. The bottom part is square and was built on the old castle tower. It's made of strong plaster or mortar and has smooth walls. A thick brick ledge separates it from the top part.
The upper part is made of brick and is also square, but smaller. It has two levels. On the lower level, you can see the clock on one side. The other three sides have double, rounded windows that are "blind," meaning they don't open. The very top of the tower is shaped like an octagon (an eight-sided shape). It has small openings on each side. From there, the tower narrows into a pointed roof, called a spire.
Why it's Protected
The Clock Tower of Ateca is very important. Because of its history and unique style, it has a special protected status. On September 6, 2002, it was officially declared a "Bien Catalogado of the Aragonese Cultural Heritage." This means it's a valuable part of Aragon's cultural history and is kept safe for everyone to enjoy.
See also
In Spanish: Torre del Reloj (Ateca) para niños
