Striking Clock Tower in Montepulciano
Why is an infamous and anarchistic Neapolitan puppy keeping time in Tuscany? The story behind a striking clock tower in Montepulciano.
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Walking down the Corso in Montepulciano I was literally struck by the appearance of Punch (of Punch and Judy fame) who counts the hours at the local clock tower. Why is an infamous and anarchistic Neapolitan puppy keeping time from a clock tower in Montepulciano in Tuscany?
The English Punch and Danish Mester Jakel derives from the stock character called Pulcinella in the Italian commedia dell’arte, and Pulcinella is normally presented as a Naples bumpkin nicknamed after a young chicken due to his beaklike nose and disoriented stupidity. His basic characteristics are a mean, vicious temperament and a propensity to knock everyone - including his wife -around.
From this point of view Pulcinella’s purposeful knocking on a bell seems out of character, just as his towering over the Tuscan heartland appears out of place. Yet the Torre di Pulcinella has been standing in Montepulciano for several hundred years. Some claim it was erected by a bishop from Naples longing for and eager to share some of his hometown folklore.
“That’s the way to do it” as Punch would undoubtedly say if presented with the clock tower idea.
It looks VERY noticeable too. Huge. You’ve got to love a bit of Punch though. :)
Julia
I haven’t thought of that before, but you are right. It must be quite big. Wonder what the measurements are?
Quirky little story. Love it!
Very interesting story, Mette. This isn’t the same thing, I know, but as I read this, the nursery rhyme, “What can you do, Punchinello little fellow” popped into my head.
Thanks Marcia, I like that and I’ll have to look it up as I don’t know what happened to the little fellow in the nursery. Interesting.
I do love the commedia dell’arte imagery, even on a clock tower :)
Wow, didn’t know this story, and I go to Tuscany every year… :)
My daughter LOVED the Torre di Pulcinella! Thanks for the story behind it. I’ll have to share it with her.
Whether a homesick Neapolitan bishop is responsible is an open question, but what is clear is that whoever commissioned the figure knew how to promote the town of MontePULCIANO. If this is so glaringly obvious to anyone else that it didn’t deserve mention, my apologies for dredging up the obvious.