Who created the Hydrochronometer of the Pincio and when was it built?

The water clock was created in 1867 by Giambattista Embriaco, a physicist and Dominican priest with a passion for clockmaking. It was then installed at the Pincian Hill in 1873 within a cast-iron turret designed by architect Joachim Ersoch, positioned in the center of a decorative pond.

What makes the design of the Pincio water clock unique?

The clock features floral-styled hands and an arboreal turret containing its mechanical movements, designed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding park landscape. This delicate marriage of art and science creates an ornamental timepiece that enhances rather than intrudes upon the natural environment of Pincian Hill.

Where exactly is the water clock located on Pincian Hill?

The hydrochronometer is situated in a cast-iron turret in the center of a pond on Pincian Hill in Rome. The pond and surrounding area were designed by architect Joachim Ersoch to showcase this unique timepiece within the park setting.

What organization maintains the Pincio water clock?

The ELIS Center, one of Italy's most prestigious schools of goldsmithing and watchmaking, has been responsible for the clock's restoration and ongoing maintenance since 2004. They volunteered to care for the delicate mechanism free of charge to preserve this historical and artistic landmark for visitors.

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Hydrochronometer of the Pincio - The Water Clock

Name: Hydrochronometer of the Pincio - The Water Clock
Rating: 4.1

Viale dei Bambini, 00187 Roma, Italia• ★★★★☆• 197 views

Paola Cortese

Roma

About Hydrochronometer of the Pincio - The Water Clock

The result of a delicate marriage of art and science, it was made in 1867 by Giambattista Embriaco, a physicist and Dominican priest with a passion for clockmaking. In 1873 the water clock was installed at the Pincian Hill in a cast-iron turret in the center of a pond designed by architect Joachim Ersoch. The floral style of the hands and the arboreal turret containing the clock's movements are designed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding park. Since its inception, the hydrochronometer has not had an easy life, due to the wear and tear of time and the incivility of those who have ruined its delicate mechanisms to the point of blocking its operation. In November 2004, the ELIS Center, home to one of Italy's most prestigious schools of goldsmithing and watchmaking, proposed to the City of Rome to take care of the restoration and subsequent maintenance of the clock free of charge.