Giovanni Dondi dall'Orologio

Giovanni Dondi dall'Orologio (c. 1330–1388) was a physician, astronomer and clockmaker born in Chioggia, the son of Jacopo Dondi, who had built the great astronomical clock in Padua in 1344. From 1348 to 1364 Giovanni designed and constructed his Astrarium, a complex astronomical clock and planetarium modelling the movements of the planets with mathematical precision.

He taught in Padua and served as ambassador to Venice in 1371. After the Paduan war he moved to the University of Pavia, where he worked as a diplomat and scholar until his death at Abbiategrasso in 1388.