BELFRIES AND BELLS
written by Sergio Caggìa with Paul Gwynne for © Nerone the Insider's Guide to Rome

 

I haven't been able, as yet, to organize a visit up a belfry. But I will one day soon and ther exend the invitation to those readers who would like to join me up a Roman belfry. I'm intrigued by this subject, and by the rules governing them in the later middle ages. Bells rang out a variety of messages to the population of the city announcing either joyful or dire events. I apologize for the short space given to this interesting subject but in later issues I promise that I will give it the space it deserves. There is space at least for three curious stories. Let's start with an event that took place on 26 November 1805. That morning Pope Pius VII blessed the two bells intended for the Campidoglio belfry. These two huge bells were cast in a foundry, which no-longer exist, near the Colosseum. Their transportation and installation was directed and overseen by an ex-convict, obviously skilled in the job. Two more facts: the biggest bell in Rome can be found in the courtyard of the Basilica of San Paolo fuori le mura. The smallest belfry is in Trastevere, belonging to the church of Saint Benedict in Piscinula at Piazza in Piscinula.