World’s Oldest Weathervane

The world’s oldest weathervane is, of course, a Weathercock. The Gallo di Ramperto or Rooster of Ramperto, is made of copper sheet and originally gilded and silvered. It was made about the year 825 on commission from Bishop Ramperto to adorn the top of the bell tower of the church of Saints Faustino & Giovita in Brescia, Italy.

 The rooster was removed from its perch in 1891, after more than a thousand years, to be restored and preserved in the city museum, now the Museum of Santa Giulia. It is substantially intact: only the tail feathers are damaged, and they bear the dedicatory inscription. Going back to the beginning of the 9th century, the “Ramperto rooster” can be considered the oldest weather vane in existence today, with an age of almost 1200 years.

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