The Clock Museum in Tovo S. Giacomo

Museo dell’Orologio in Tovo S. Giacomo -  in Pietra Ligure’s inland, around 7km from the sea - was created thanks to last clockmaker Giovanni Bergallo’s will, who expressed his wish to donate his collection to the town as a testimony to the art of clockmaking.

The Bergallos made clocks between 1861 and 1980 in the house/office where they carried out all their activities. Their clocks have been used in Liguria, Piedmont, Val d'Aosta, Valtellina and even Patagonia.

Clocks displayed in the museum are authentic pieces - the oldest dates back to the16th century - collected by the family or donations from collectors, churches and others.

Visitors can find dials, hands, ‘oddities’ from belfries, pulleys, as well as clocks - all objects represent a rich history of bygone mechanical clock techniques.

The first public exhibition of some pieces from the Bergallo factory was in September 1984 at the new Tovo S.Giacomo primary school’s inauguration. On this occasion hands, dials, mechanisms, writings, photos and films were displayed.

It was on that occasion that the last clockmaker, Giovanni Bergallo, after refusing offers from foreign pretenders - in particular a Japanese industrial group, officially announced his wish that a museum be created.

After about ten years, the museum was created and inaugurated on April 7th 1997 in the ex-town hall of Bardino Nuovo.

Opening times

October-May:
Saturday 3pm-6.30pm, Sunday 10.30am-2pm – 3pm-6pm

June-September:
Friday, Saturday and Sunday: 6pm-10pm
The museum will also open for groups on reservation

The guided tour lasts around 45 minutes

For more information: http://www.museodellorologio.itwww.museodellorologio.it