La Torre del Reloj, Mula

The clock tower of Mula 

The clock tower in Mula is one of the few remaining structures of its kind in the Region of Murcia and was used in a pre-digital era for communication in a largely rural community.

This bells chimed out the hour and marked the allotted times for the use of irrigation water, and were  used as a means of communication with agricultural communities and those working in the fields surrounding the town. The same system is used for some purposes today, marking the start of Semana Santa and the beginning of the long night of penance and endurance at midnight on the Night of the Drums (La Noche de los Tambores), when thousands gather to drum through the night and into the next afternoon.

There is documented evidence of a clock tower existing in 1550 but the one we see today was built in 1806, following the severe damage done to the previous tower during the storm and flooding known as the Lluvias de San Calixto in 1651. During the 25-year period from 1650 to 1675, Murcia suffered from some major flooding incidents and this one on 14th October 1651 achieved notoriety as one of the worst, flooding the orchard areas of Murcia and Orihuela, with hundreds of people and animals drowning. Many other towns also registered severe damage. 

The tower, with its distinctive blue paintwork and blue ceramic tiled roof, is located on the northern side of the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, a square housing some of the most important buildings in the town, including the main parish church, the Iglesia de San Miguel, and the Town Hall.

The tower was catalogued as an Item of Cultural Interest in 2008.

Location

Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Mula

The tower is opposite the church of San Miguel and can be seen as part of a tour of the main streets in the old quarter.