Leaning Tower of Zaragoza: Difference between revisions
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In one of the shops in the plaza is a small museum space dedicated to the tower, with photographs and pieces of it. |
In one of the shops in the plaza is a small museum space dedicated to the tower, with photographs and pieces of it. |
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==Bibliography== |
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* Gómez Urdáñez, María del Carmen (2003). '' The Torre Nueva of Zaragoza and documentation of the 16th century: history and historiography.'' Review of the Department of Art History at the [[University of Zaragoza]], ISSN 0213-1498, Nº 18, 2003 , pags. 341-374 [http://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=927203 (Ref.)] |
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* Dolader Serrano, Alberto (1989). '' The Torre Nueva of Zaragoza.'' Zaragoza, City Council of Zaragoza. ISBN 84-86807-06-9 |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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Revision as of 02:23, 6 October 2012
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The Leaning Tower of Zaragoza or Torre Nueva, was the most famous Mudéjar tower of the Spanish city of Zaragoza. It was built in the present Plaza de San Felipe, being the first large building built in the city during the 16th century. From 1504 to 1512. The Council ordered a civil tower to house the public clock -built by Jaime Ferrer- and bells that regulated the life of the city. The bells were placed in 1508. The tower was made of brick in Mudéjar style by Christian masters (Gabriel Gombao and Antón Sariñena) and Mudéjars (Juce Galí, Ismael Allabar and master Monferriz). It began to topple in 1892 by decision of the Council of Zaragoza.
Description of the monument
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Of four heights, the first was a star of 16 points and the following were octagonal with corner buttresses, characteristic of these towers in the 16th century and role model for other towers such as Santa María de Calatayud.
The shot was added in the 18th century (in 1749), being an attractive triple spire, with slate roofs, removed from 1878.
A great decoration encouraged the building made of geometric figures and pottery, also opened bays with pointed arches.
The tower was leaning since shortly after its construction, possibly due to the short time that was used to make the base and the first body: the south side of the tower hatched faster than the north, resulting in a difference in tensions of both sides that inclined the tower. It attempted to remedy reinforcing the foundation, but the slope remained. Its inclination or deviation from vertical was nearly three meters.
From the 16th century, the tower has become a symbol of the city.
During the Sieges (1808-1809), the tower was used to monitor the movements of the French troops, in addition to the notice in case of danger.
He was considered the most famous Spanish leaning tower. In the 19th century was very reproduced by engravers and photographers. Among the preserved photographic views highlights by Charles Clifford, in October 1860, or the different footages of J. Laurent, between 1863 and 1877. But it also was immortalized by local photographers as Júdez or Coyne.
Demolition of the tower
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In 1892 the council decided to demolish the tower, justifying the decision by the inclination and the alleged destruction of the work. The decision was opposed by many intellectuals and part of the population, but efforts to save it were in vain.
Among the defenders of the tower highlighted the Gascón de Gotor brothers, who published numerous articles denouncing the "turricidio" of the most beautiful Mudéjar tower, calling also as the greatest artistic crime committed in Spain.
The demolition lasted a year, starting in the summer of 1892 with the installation of some scaffolding. The bricks of the tower were sold for foundations of new houses in the city, thus showing that these were perfectly sound, and that the tower was thrown arbitrarily. In the summer of 1893, definitely, Zaragoza was left without its Leaning Tower.
During the 90s, the 20th century, these built the first memorial in the place that had been the tower. Today is just a mark on the pavement of the perimeter of the tower and a sculpture of a boy who sees it as if it existed, sitting on the floor.
In one of the shops in the plaza is a small museum space dedicated to the tower, with photographs and pieces of it.
Bibliography
- Gómez Urdáñez, María del Carmen (2003). The Torre Nueva of Zaragoza and documentation of the 16th century: history and historiography. Review of the Department of Art History at the University of Zaragoza, ISSN 0213-1498, Nº 18, 2003 , pags. 341-374 (Ref.)
- Dolader Serrano, Alberto (1989). The Torre Nueva of Zaragoza. Zaragoza, City Council of Zaragoza. ISBN 84-86807-06-9
External links
