Show messina rightly claims most wonderful aock messina one of odthe the most 14 ampt t L tant towns in sicily Is regi regaining fInIn the gl el rles it lost in the appalling ake some 22 years ago oneff one of the ng of at its ili new buildings Is a ta ver chic contains the most wonderful clock in the world the tower Is surmounted by a bronise lion polding holding tle tile city flag in its fioti paws at midday the lion lashes lg la tall dav waves Vs the flag and roars ft bronze cock placed below the lial hoi crows a greeting erecting to sunrise noon ani sunset TWO arched recesses contala eon tali the bells upon which the hours ad are struck by figures of dlana diana and clar enan the heroines who save tile city froni from being sacked by the french after the sicilian Vespers Ves ln on each of odthe the four sides of n the ifie tower Is isn ai luminous um inous adlaf dial in di diameter meter upon which are displayed the phases of the moon a perpetual calendar and the movements of the planets round the sun below the clock face Is a stage upon which mechanical figures enact scenes appropriate to the great feasts of the church london tit bits |