Torre Morisca | Moorish Clock Tower

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Vicente Rocafuerte had planned to import the Torre Morisca (Moorish Clock Tower) from England for the reconstruction of his beloved city.

Words & Photos: Trail Forth Journal.

The history of Torre Morisca | Moorish Clock Tower

After finishing his term as president and while he was governor of the province of Guayaquil, Vicente Rocafuerte decided to import a machine from England and install it in the tower of the Casa del Cabildo in order to rebuild his beloved city.

The Moorish Clock Tower is a standout among the most iconic Guayaquil tourist attractions. As a cornerstone of the city’s heritage, it is undoubtedly one of the most fundamental things to do in Guayaquil for anyone who appreciates historic architecture.

Torre Morisca – Moorish Clock Tower

The clock finally arrived in 1842, after which it was installed in the tower of the Casa Consistorial. It replaced an old colonial Jesuit clock that had previously occupied the tower. This was the city’s first public clock. Before that, the city’s first clock had been installed by the Dominicans. However, it was located in the cloister of their convent and only chimed the hours. Furthermore, it only worked during the day and on sunny days because it was a sundial.

Casa de las Temporalidades tower.

The clock, which was brought from Belgium by the Jesuits in 1732, was installed in the tower of the ‘Casa de las Temporalidades’ (House of Temporalities). At that time, this building was located on the corner of La Compañía Street (now Clemente Ballén) and La Cárcel Street (now Chimborazo). Although it did not strike the hours, it simply indicated them. A bell ringer lived under the tower and was responsible for ringing a bell every hour until curfew. The new clock remained there throughout the 19th century. However, in the 20th century, the town hall began to deteriorate, necessitating the dismantling of the tower and its relocation to the market on the riverbank opposite.

Location map: Torre Morisca | Moorish Clock Tower

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This is the first tower on 10 de Agosto Street.

The tower remained in this location until 1920, when the council hired Mr Nicolás Virgilio Bardelin on 6 June 1921 to begin construction of a wooden tower covered in cement. This tower was intended to house the clock brought by Vicente Rocafuerte.

In 1921, the town council decided to give the public clock its own spot on the seafront, at the beginning of Avenida 10 de Agosto. However, this did not last long; five years later, the clock collapsed under its own weight due to construction errors that had been detected over time. Consequently, in 1927, the decision was made to demolish the building and store the English clock.

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Torre Morisca | Moorish Clock Tower, 1939

Torre Morisca, 1930

In 1930, engineers Francisco Ramón and J. Pérez Nin y Landín decided to build the current structure, which was originally known as the ‘Torre Morisca’. It was inaugurated on 24 May 1931. The last changes to the clock were made in 1992, when it and the building that housed it underwent extensive restoration. Over time, the clock became one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Over the course of its last 150 years, the Public Clock, or Torre Morisca, has poetically been considered ‘the companion of the city of Guayaquil’.

The tower was later modified by the architect Juan Orús and the building’s ornamentation was designed by the artist Emilio Soro. The reinforced concrete structure rises four floors above an octagonal base measuring approximately 28 m² and culminates in an Arab dome of Byzantine architecture reaching a height of 23 metres. This unique building is notable for its style, which was inspired by the work of Italian architects in the early 20th century.

In June 2013, adjustments were made to ensure that the original London clock once again tells the time and rings its bronze bell every hour. Since June 2023, the Torre Morisca has been open to the public from Thursday to Sunday, 10:00–17:00.

For those looking to dive deeper into the history of these landmarks, we offer two daily experiences: our Guayaquil City Tour, a comprehensive and comfortable journey through the city’s top highlights, or our Multi-Experience Walking Tour, a strategic stroll designed to reveal the best panoramic views in less time. You choose the pace; we provide the history.

Torre Morísca

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