The Clock Tower in Campobello di Mazara

Campobello di Mazara, in the Free Municipal Consortium of Trapani, western Sicily, presents itself to its visitors with the Municipal Clock Tower, a nineteenth-century monument and symbol of the Municipality.

The history of the Municipal Clock Tower in Campobello di Mazara is inextricably linked to the history of local nobility, when at the end of the nineteenth century, the feudal system rooted in the region began to creak, to the advantage of the noble families of the area.

The new ruling class promoted the construction of stately buildings inspired by the Renaissance and so, the Municipal Clock Tower in the context of the Town Hall, becomes one of the greatest symbols of this sea ​​change.
The foundation stone of the building was laid in 1858, while the entire structure comes to light in 1877.

The clock, still in perfect working order, underwent some technical interventions during the XNUMXs and in recent years.

The architecture of the Clock Tower in Campobello di Mazara and what you can admire

The Municipal Clock Tower of Campobello di Mazara is part of the Town Hall. It has a square plan and is 20 meters high; in the highest part of the tower is the clock, visible from every angle, as each side has a dial equipped with lighting. The top floor of the tower is overlooked by two bells, which mark the passage of time every hour.

The bearing structure of the building is clad in tuff ashlars, while the decorations are abundant, of which unfortunately it is not possible to know the author. The main decorations of the tower are floral, including those that surround the rosettes: leaves and flowers are typical motifs of eclectic style introduced in Italy by Ernesto Basile.

Rose windows, balustrades, single lancet windows and arches that characterize the style of the Municipal Clock Tower of Campobello di Mazara, are all inspired by the Renaissance style and the typical decorations of theNorman architecture, declined according to Sicilian tastes. Of particular interest is the clock mechanism, with its history: originally activated by a lever system, today it is instead controlled by a computerized electronic system.

What to do at the Clock Tower in Campobello di Mazara and in the surroundings

The Municipal Clock Tower of Campobello di Mazara is the symbol of the municipality, therefore a visit to the historic center can start right from here: in this way it will be possible to admire the tower, even in the darkest hours of the evening, thanks to the lighting of the dials. In the historic center, of seventeenth-century origins, there is also the beautiful Mother Church of the nineteenth century and the various watchtowers along the streets of the town.

Following the sighting itinerary, you reach the coast, where on Tre Fontane beach you will meet the beautiful Saracen Tower, right on the sand that is bathed by the Mediterranean: take advantage of it for a break on the beach, to swim in the clear waters and to relax in the sun. Who also wants to discover other beaches in the area, can reach Cala dei Turchi or the Belice River Reserve.

From Campobello di Mazara, you can go back in time: not far away are the wonderful archaeological sites of Cave of Cusa and the Park of Selinunte, where you can admire the rock quarry with which the temples of the XNUMXth century BC were built. Finally, a stop at the Civic Museum of Selinunte will show you daily life at these sites, thanks to the finds found in Selinunte.

Local heritage of the area is then Nocellara oil, IGP product of Sicily, excellent to taste in local restaurants and agritourisms, but also to bring back home. Naturally, your tour of western Sicily does not stop here: if you want to discover the beauties of the coast, head towards Marsala, from where you can reach the Egadi Islands, an earthly paradise for sea lovers, but also rich in architectural beauties such as the Palazzo Florio and the Castle of Santa Caterina.

Marsala, where you can also admire the bel Sanctuary of Maria Santissima Annunziata, is only 36 km from Campobello di Mazara; along the coastal route, however, you will also come across Mazara del Vallo, where you can take a break with very rich architectural attractions: get lost in the Kasbah and then look for Piazza della Repubblica, where you can sit down to enjoy an aperitif, while being immersed in the suggestive Sicilian atmosphere. Finally, don't forget the former Church of Sant'Ignazio, in Piazza del Plebiscito; however, the building damaged by a collapse in 1933 is still today a beautiful attraction of this city.

How to get to Campobello di Mazara

Reach Campobello di Mazara, in the Free Municipal Consortium of Trapani, by car or by train: in auto, from the A29 Palermo-Mazara del Vallo, take the exit for Campobello di Mazara, just 3 km from the destination; in train, get off at Castelvetrano Station and continue your journey of just 7 km by bus or shuttle.