{{short description|Clock tower in Lima, Peru}} {{Infobox monument | name = German Tower | native_name = Torre Alemana | image = Lima 2011 - parque universitario.jpg | caption = The clock tower in 2011 | location = [[University Park, Lima]] | designer = Friedrich Jordan Barkholtz | type = [[Clock tower]] | material = | begin = {{dts|1921|07|30}} | complete = {{dts|1923|07|10}}<ref name=EC>{{Cite news |title=El parque Universitario y la historia de la Torre Reloj |url=https://elcomercio.pe/lima/patrimonio/parque-universitario-historia-torre-reloj-fotos-noticia-513071-noticia/ |date=2018-04-18 |work=[[El Comercio (Peru)|El Comercio]]}}</ref> | height = 29 metres | coordinates = {{Coord|format=dms|display=it}} }} The '''German Tower''' ({{langx|es|Torre Alemana}}), also known as the '''Clock Tower''' ({{langx|es|Torre del Reloj}}) or the '''University Clock''' ({{langx|es|Reloj Universitario}}), is a [[clock tower]] in the [[historic centre of Lima]], Peru. It is located in front of the [[Casona de la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos]], in the [[University Park, Lima|University Park]] at the intersection of [[Avenida Abancay|Abancay]] and [[Avenida Nicolás de Piérola|Nicolás de Piérola]] avenues. It was donated in 1921 by the [[German Peruvians|German community]] in Lima, on the occasion of the [[Centennial of the Independence of Peru]]. At twelve in the day and at six in the afternoon, its chimes played the first stanza of the [[National Anthem of Peru]].<ref name=EC/>
==History== The German Tower was built as a gift from the [[German Peruvians|resident German colony]] to commemorate the [[Centennial of the Independence of Peru]]. The [[List of ambassadors of Germany to Peru|German ambassador]], {{ill|Hans Paul von Humboldt-Dachroeden|de}}, commented that "a strong bond between both peoples and governments would be built and it would help to maintain and foster mutual understanding and friendship."
The construction of the [[clock tower]] was in charge of the [[Weimar Republic|German]] [[architect]] Friedrich Jordan Barkholtz (a native of [[Hamburg]]) and the engineering firm Dunkelberg and Pellry, who together with the German ambassador, the most notorious German families residing in Lima, in [[Chanchamayo, Junín|Chanchamayo]] and the [[Mayor of Lima|mayor of the city]], {{ill|Pedro Pablo Mujica Carassa|es}}, celebrated the laying ceremony of the first stone on July 30, 1921.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Centenario: las celebraciones de la Independencia 1921-1924 |last=Casalino Sen |first=Carlota |publisher=[[Metropolitan Municipality of Lima]] |year=2017 |isbn=9789972726156 |location=Lima |pages=58–59 |language=es |url=http://www.biblioteca.munlima.gob.pe/images/munilibros/MUNILIBRO10.pdf |oclc=1126541508 |access-date=2023-02-02 |archive-date=2019-11-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113193121/http://www.biblioteca.munlima.gob.pe/images/munilibros/MUNILIBRO10.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Archbishop of Lima]], [[Monsignor]] [[Emilio Lissón]], also participated in said ceremony.<ref name=Peru21>{{Cite news |title=El reloj del Parque Universitario: La historia del bello monumento obsequiado por la colonia alemana |url=https://peru21.pe/lima/reloj-parque-universitario-historia-bello-monumento-obsequiado-colonia-alemana-403930-noticia/ |date=2018-04-18 |work=[[Perú 21]]}}</ref>
Although the German colony initially requested authorization to occupy land in the [[Park of the Exhibition]], a place where a Lookout Tower would be built, it was built in 1922 in the [[University Park, Lima|University Park]], where it is to this day.<ref name=Peru21/>
On April 10, 1922, it was agreed, through a session chaired by Mayor [[Pedro Rada y Gamio]], to officiate at the ''Foundation Company'', so that the university park would be in presentable condition at the inauguration of the tower.
The Clock Tower was inaugurated on July 10, 1923;<ref name=EC/> the first intervention was carried out on October 15, 1937, in which the clock was repaired by Antenor Z. Alvarado, and later in 1969 an attempt was made to repair it again.
==Gallery== <gallery mode="packed"> UNMSM Casona y Parque Universitario 1924.jpg|The tower and its surroundings in 1924 Placa Torre Alemana de Lima (en alemán).jpg|The tower's plaque in [[German language|German]] Parque universitario de Lima en la noche.jpg|The tower at night </gallery>
==See also== *[[University Park, Lima|University Park]], where the tower is located *[[Casona of the National University of San Marcos]], located next to the park
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Lima landmarks}}
[[Category:Clock towers in South America]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Lima]] [[Category:National University of San Marcos]] [[Category:Historic Centre of Lima]] [[Category:Towers in Peru]] [[Category:Towers completed in 1923]]