City Tower, a symbol of Rijeka and a good example of a typical round tower access-point, which leads into the fortified town. Today it dominates the central part of Korzo, although during its lifetime it was overtopped by more recently constructed buildings. It was built in the Middle Ages, probably on the foundations of the Late Ancient littoral town doors. Some phases of its construction can be seen on the lower part of the front of the Tower, which are characterised by a richly decorated portal, an imperial coat of arms carved out of stone and a relief of the Austrian emperors Leopold and Charles VI. Rijeka paid them special respect due to the maritime orientation they introduced into the state policies of the Austrian court. The Tower's superstructure, on which a city clock has been situated since the 17th century, has been remodelled several times; most significantly at the turn of the 18th century under the guidance of municipal engineer A. Gnamb, the last time was at the end of the 19th century, based on a design by F. Bazarig.
A Rijeka City coat of arms, sculpted in high relief, is situated below the City Tower's clock. The emperor Leopold I Habsburg granted it to Rijeka in 1659. Rijeka's eagle has now replaced the traditional medieval protector St. Vitus in official communications. The heads of Rijeka's double-headed eagle are peculiar in heraldic terms as they look in the same direction. The eagle holds an urn in its claws from which an inexhaustible supply of water is running. This is supposed to symbolise the infinite loyalty of the city to the Austrian emperor. This 'inexhaustibility', an integral part of the coat of arms, is bolstered by the motto INDEFICIENTER (inexhaustible, unfailing), for this purpose carved out in the new Latin language.

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Rijeka City Tower - Public Info

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Inserted: 08-08-2023 18:08:12