The bells of the Sacro Monte in Varese (Italy) built in the middle of the Alps

The bell tower of the main church of the Sacro Monte in Varese (Italy) houses a remarkable concert of eight bells, tuned to the diatonic scale of C major. There were five original bells and they were cast in 1791 by Pietro Luigi Comerio, while one cracked and was recast in 1830 by Felice Bizzozero. In 1937, local bell foundryman Angelo Bianchi added three more, bringing the total to eight bronze bells, nine if we consider a small recall bell cast in 1859. In this video, the bells play a short melody to signal the arrival of a pilgrimage, which started at the foot of the mountain and arrived at the top by reciting three rosaries. From the top of the bell tower there is a breathtaking view, reaching as far as Monte Rosa and over the entire plain, including the beautiful lakes.
The history of Sacro Monte di Varese began in the fourth century with Saint Ambrose, who wanted to create a place of thanksgiving here for his victory over the Arians. The first church was built in the fifth century and then demolished, until the construction of a large Romanesque building in 1000. Of the old sanctuary, the crypt has survived today, while the church was rebuilt from 1472 at the behest of the Duke of Milan. In the second half of the 15th century, the blessed Caterina da Pallanza and Giuliana da Busto Arsizio retired to prayer near the sanctuary. Their noble example was followed by other young women, who on 10 August 1476 founded the celebrated monastery that still stands today. Since 2003, UNESCO has considered the Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy a World Heritage Site.
#bells #church #catholic #catholicchurch #bell #culture #italy #concert