The bells of Trentino

The music that fills our villages, our valleys, our landscape

Church bells are our music. The valleys embrace it, and send it back as echoes all around.

Church bells are our present, not just our past. They have marked the rhythm of our life in the mountains and valleys. They told us when to return home from the fields, when it was time to pray and go to mass. But they were also the alarm bells that rang to warn us of fire, and in many cases were used to ward off storms.

Today, everything has changed around us, but the church bells continue to ring. There is even an association that brings together our bell ringers. This is the Associazione Campanari Trentini, which promotes historical, artistic and technical research on the church bells in Trentino.

An ancient art that makes Trentino sing

"Campanò" is an ancient art, rooted in the culture and traditions of Trentino. A manual bell-ringing technique that requires great skill and a deep understanding of church bells.

To perform campanò, bell-ringers climb up the tower and attach themselves to the rope connected to the bell. With a precise, rhythmic movement, the bell-ringers make the bell swing from side to side, producing a deep, melodious sound.

Despite the arrival of mechanical and electric systems, campanò is still practised in many villages in Trentino, and there are many young people who fall in love with this ancient art.

To listen to the sound of the campanò, visit Trentino's villages! You can take part in campanò demonstrations and discover its secrets, especially during religious festivals or traditional events.

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Every bell has a name

Vigilio, Anselmina, Santissimo, Addolorata, Celestina, Ave Maria: these are the names of the six bells in the Duomo di Trento cast in 1920, which, along with two more cast in the 1950s, make up the Duomo di Trento's peal.

The cathedral's peal of bells is enhanced by a ninth bell in the San Romedio bell tower, which was put back into operation a few years ago to announce the capitular celebrations.

When you are in Trento, take some time to stop in Piazza Duomo. The Fountain of Neptune, with its baroque tritons, putti on horseback and statue of Neptune, the stone eagle on the smaller fountain, behind the frescoed Casa Rella. And then the peal of the Duomo's bells, a true spectacle!

Piazza Duomo is also the location of the Trento Civic Tower, which tells another story of bells. Inside the tower were the "Guardia" and the "Renga", which embodied the history, traditions and identity of the Trento community. To learn more about the story of these two iconic bells, we recommend a visit to climb the tower.

Echoes of peace

The Campana dei Caduti in Rovereto, a universal symbol of peace and memory, cast from the bronze of First World War cannons, is the largest counterbalanced swinging bell in the world.

Every evening, its 100 tolls echo through the city, remembering the fallen soldiers of all wars and calling for unity among people. Conceived by Don Antonio Rossaro, the Campana dei Caduti is a voice that transcends national borders, becoming a beacon of hope.

Climb Miravalle Hill to see it in all its glory!

Visible bells

The bells of Pozza, in Val di Fassa, have an unusual exposed position that allows you to see them working. They make up what is known as one of the finest peals of bells in Trentino, despite containing only four bells.

If you are in Pozza, remember to look up at the bell tower: you will be able to see how the bells work as they ring.

A generous melody

In Fornace, near Trento, the bell tower is one of the most important monuments for the community, from both a historical and sentimental point of view. Its eight bronze bells, with their unique touch, make the complex truly stand out.

Just think, in many parishes in Italy without bells, they play recordings of this melody.