The city-clock

During the XIX century the research of possible applications of electrical energy ranged over the field of instruments for the timing allowing the production of motor synchronous electric clocks characterized by the simplicity of the works and the optimal precision. The design of road clocks began, and the first models started to appear in the international industrial exhibitions.

The innovation provoked the interest of the king Ferdinando II di Borbone-Due Sicilie who, in 1853 agreed to buy an exemplar "ad uso di piazza pubblica" (for the public use) that had to be placed "in uno de' larghi di questa Capitale" (in a square of Naples). The commision was entrusted to Giovanni de Normann, "meccanico della Reale telegrafia elettrica" (mechanic of the Royal electical telegraphy), which bought the clock in the distant England.

The equipment was carried by train from London to Liverpool where, embarked on a steamer, it began the travel to Naples and arrived, damaged, in the month of October 1853. The price, because of the purchase, the transport and the repairing, reached 1000 ducats, figure that paid the civic Administration.

At that point they needed to decide where to put the clock. The king wanted to put it in Largo del Castello (the current piazza del Municipio), as a matter of fact the municipal building Council had the task to search a placing in the area of the huge square.

An area next to the street of Santa Brigida was located, but the king didn't like the idea: it ruined "la visuale della Strada" (the sight of the Street). Other solutions were considered and the one that put the clock in front of the main façade of Palazzo San Giacomo prevailed.

It was a choice that considered the recent placing of "Officina generale de' telegrafi elettrici" (general Workshop of the electrical telegraphies) in rooms next to the left main door of Palazzo dei Reali Ministeri. As a matter of fact, spoiling the proximity of the telegraphic station, it was sufficient to connect a short stroke of earthly cables to get easily the necessary to the clock's running.

Having finished the base of volcanic rock planned by the municiapal architect Gaetano Genovese, the iron stand, on which the clock with four faces leggible also at night thanks to a gas lighting system was fixed, rose.

The city-clock started to run in November 1854 and remained in front of Palazzo di San Giacomo till 1863, when, because of the transfer of the office of telegraphs in Palazzo Gravina, was removed from the square only just renamed "piazza del Municipio".