The Water clock of Villa Borghese is a unique creation, invented in 1867 by father Giovanni Battista Embriaco, a Dominican monk. The mechanism was originally exhibited at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in the same year.

Only later it would have been moved to its actual position in the Borghese Park, and in a new composition designed to house it. Gioacchino Ersoch was assigned this duty, and in 1873 he placed the clock mechanism invented by Mr. Embriaco inside a cast iron structure inspired by vegetal motifs, enclosed in glass. This small tower is located at the top of a rock in the middle of a water basin, and connected to land through a small bridge.

The clock has four faces visible at the four corners.The movement of the pendulum is activated by water, and there is also an alarm that starts buzzing once two containers are filled with water. It is quite a delicate work of art and mechanics that needed restoration in several phases since it was first constructed.

Once you are done with the view of the Water clock, you can explore further Villa Borghese that offers plenty of green space, museums and entertainment. And don’t forget to reach the Pincio Terrace to admire the view of Central Rome from the top - best at sunset