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Bell tower of Mortegliano — Mortegliano
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Religious places 📍 Mortegliano, Italy 1,578 views

Bell tower of Mortegliano

It rises next to the archpriest's cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. The bell tower overlooks the Friulian plain for its singular height (in such a small town): it is the first in Italy and the 32nd in Europe. Its structure is characterized by a set of light-colored cells that h...

Photo · Rhianna B.

Bell tower of Mortegliano — Mortegliano, Italy.

Location
Mortegliano
Type
Religious places
Opening hours
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20°C
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About Bell tower of Mortegliano

Bell tower of Mortegliano - Mortegliano | Secret World Trip Planner

It rises next to the archpriest's cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. The bell tower overlooks the Friulian plain for its singular height (in such a small town): it is the first in Italy and the 32nd in Europe. Its structure is characterized by a set of light-colored cells that highlight the brown interior: at the top there are square clocks with Roman numeration. The archpriest of the cathedral, Valentino Buiatti, was the main supporter of the construction, in Mortegliano, of the highest bell tower of the peninsula. In 1955 the works started under the direction of the Udine architect Pietro Zanini (1895-1990), according to a project of personal and modern interpretation of the neo-gothic style. On September 20, 1959 the inauguration took place with a great participation of the people. The octagonal bell tower is made of reinforced concrete and bricks: at the base there is a chapel and a loggia acts as a belfry. Zanini put in place a praiseworthy proportionality of the decorative elements in order to make the overall view artistically attractive up to the bold spire, twenty-two meters high, surmounted by the cross. In the following years, unfortunately, the tower had to undergo a history of slow degradation and lack of financial means for maintenance: radical restorations were, however, carried out in 1990.

Bell tower of Mortegliano - Mortegliano | Secret World Trip Planner
Bell tower of Mortegliano - Mortegliano | Secret World Trip Planner
Bell tower of Mortegliano - Mortegliano | Secret World Trip Planner
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  1. 01
    Morning
    Bell tower of Mortegliano
    📍 Mortegliano
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  2. 02
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    📍 11 km away
  3. 03
    Evening
    📍 11.8 km away

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Frequently Asked Questions

The bell tower of Mortegliano is the highest in Italy and the 32nd highest in Europe, making it remarkably tall for such a small town in the Friulian plain. It features a bold spire that rises 22 meters above the main structure, topped with a cross, creating an impressive architectural landmark visible from considerable distances.
Construction began in 1955 under the direction of renowned Udine architect Pietro Zanini (1895-1990), with the project inaugurated on September 20, 1959 with significant public participation. The tower was championed by Archpriest Valentino Buiatti and represents a modern interpretation of the neo-gothic style.
The octagonal bell tower is constructed from reinforced concrete and bricks, featuring light-colored cells that highlight the brown interior with decorative proportionality throughout. At the base there is a chapel, and a loggia serves as the belfry, while at the top are square clocks displaying Roman numerals.
The bell tower rises next to the archpriest's cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Mortegliano, serving as a dominant feature of the town's skyline. This proximity to the cathedral makes it easy to visit both religious structures in one trip.
The tower experienced slow degradation and maintenance challenges in the decades following its inauguration due to limited financial resources, but radical restorations were carried out in 1990 to preserve this architectural treasure. These restoration efforts have helped maintain the tower's structural integrity and visual appeal.

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