Yazd Clock Square

In the old days, municipalities installed big clocks on top of tall towers - usually installed in the middle and high-traffic areas of the city - so that people could see the clock and time from every corner of the city. Even though, with the development of technology, knowing the time is not as difficult as it used to be, these buildings are still standing in many cities of the world and are known as historical monuments. As one of the ancient cities of Iran, Yazd, too, has a square, named Clock Square, in the old part of the city, which, along with several other buildings, has formed a historical and spectacular complex.

History and Features of Yazd Clock Square

Clock Square of Yazd, which is also known as “Vaqt al-Sa’at” and “Vaqt va Sa’at” (lit. time and clock), is located on Bazaar Naw Street. The tower located in this square was built by a person named Abu Bakr Yazdi in 1893 AD and, therefore, this clock can be considered as the oldest urban clock in Iran. The construction of the tower took seven years.

Of course, the original structure of this square is much older than the Qajar era. According to historical books, in the 8th century AH (14th century AD), Seyyed Ruknuddin Qazi, one of the great scientists and scholars of Yazd who lived in this neighborhood, founded a library and a school in this area to turn this neighborhood into a scientific base. This square was called “Vaqt al-Sa’at” because Seyyed Ruknuddin had established astronomical and observational facilities and equipment as a sundial there.

Placing the clock as a new tool in a tower with a historical structure and architecture is a symbol of the coexistence of tradition and modernity. In terms of architecture, the clock tower was built with the principles of architecture followed during the Qajar era (19th century). The use of seven-colored tiles, the construction of a long transept arch, and the muqarnas artwork used as exterior decoration are among the architectural features of the building. The tower has a quadrangular plan and four clock faces are placed on top of it, on four sides. The height of this brick tower is about 25 meters. Even after decades of construction, the tower is still taller than the surrounding structures and can be easily seen from a distance.

Sights around Yazd Clock Square

Since the Yazd Clock Tower is located in one of the oldest neighborhoods of the city, there are many sights around it. The water reservoir of the Clock Square is located next to the clock tower of Yazd. This reservoir was built by a person named “Khwaja Amir Astarabadi” and its construction dates back to 1709 AD (1121 AH). The reservoir has 49 steps and four windcatchers.

The Jame’ Mosque of Yazd is the most important place near the Yazd Clock Square. This beautiful mosque, with its tall minarets, is one of the symbols of Yazd City. The establishment and completion of the building took place in three stages, over a period of about 10 centuries. The overall space of this mosque is built on a plot of 104 x 99 meters. The mausoleum of Seyyed Ruknuddin Qazi, the Vazir House and Mosque, the Haziraei House, the House of Seyyed Ali Mohammad Vaziri, the Vazir Water Reservoir, the Shokuhi House, the Sheikhiha Mosque, and the “Vaqt al-Sa’at” Husayniyya are other historical and interesting buildings near Yazd Clock Square. The Water Museum of Yazd is also located a short distance from the square. This museum is an exhibition of equipment and technology of water supply and qanat digging in the past centuries.

Yazd Clock Square was inscribed on the list of Iran’s national heritage in the year 1999 AD.

As one of the ancient cities of Iran, Yazd has a square, named Clock Square, in the old part of the city, which, along with several other buildings, has formed a historical and spectacular complex.