Torre Sineira, Leiria

On Largo Dr. Manuel de Arriaga, I went up to the building of the government of the district of Leiria (Governo Civil Do Distrito De Leiria). Here is the Torre Sineira Tower, built in 1772 on the instructions of Bishop D. Frei Miguel de Bulhões e Sousa as the bell tower of the cathedral. It may seem strange. the bell tower is located relatively far from the church, but there is a simple explanation for this: the construction site was chosen on an elevation so that the ringing of the bells could be heard throughout the city, which was rapidly growing at that time. The tower is built in the Baroque style and is topped with a cast-iron cross with a traditional Portuguese white angel weather vane. The small pediment, framed by spires of torches, is decorated with the coat of arms of the Diocese of Leiria. There are 6 bells on the belfry, two on each side, except facing the slope of castle hill. The bells were cast in the workshops of João Craveiro by order of Bishop D. Manuel Aguiar. For a long time, the bell tower served as a fire tower, notifying residents of the appearance of fire, then chimes were installed on the tower and the bells began to strike the time. On October 23, 2014, the cathedral, as well as the bell tower, received the status of a national monument..

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