Clock Tower is the most recognizable monument that identifies Bitola. It is located in the center of the city, in the northern part of Shirok Sokak, around which there are numerous cultural and historical monuments, as well as new constructions. With its height, the city clock dominates the area and broadcasts popular music when ticking certain time.
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| Bitola Clock Tower |
Although there hasn't been found any documentation for its construction, according to some unconfirmed scientific knowledge, it is considered that the clock tower was built during the Turkish rule in 1830, along with the church St.Dimitrija. It is said that during the construction, 60.000 eggs were used as a material for binding the blocks, collected from rural households in Bitola. Thus builders thought that the walls would be much stronger. These past centuries justified their architectural mastery.
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| Clock tower and Phillip II |
Clock Tower stands at 33 meters, it is set on a square base, with 5.8 m width each side. From the north side there are semi-circular entrance through which can be gone up stone spiral stairs. Clock tower is divided into three floors and the top is the mechanism of the clock. The original clock was replaced with a newer one and much more precise during the Second World War. There are entrenched special metal plates on every side on which are mounted the hands of the clock and are inscribed Roman numerals from one to twelve. The top part is a small dome, which offers a beautiful view of the City of Consuls. The new clock was purchased by the Nazis, in gratitude to the citizens for building German cemetery for the victims of World War I, along with English and French cemetery.
In recent times the tower has been conserved and restored, but that didn't change the original look of the clock tower, which continues to be one of the most representative monuments of Islamic art. The park around the tower is a place where people gather every day and enjoy the beautiful nature.
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| The Clock Tower changes lights for New Year and Christmas |
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