Hello! Are you planning to visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa and want to know the history of the bells of the Bell Tower? You have come to the right place.
In this post we will find out together: where are the bells of the Pisa Tower, I will tell you about the curiosities and legends that have made the bells of Pisa famous..
Are you ready? Let’s get started!
ALT! Before we start with the article, a brief warning: you should know that the bells are located on the Leaning Tower which is one of the most important monuments in Piazza Dei Miracoli, you may risk running into a long line at the entrance of the attraction. To visit the Bell Tower and its bells while skipping the line at the entrance it is recommended that you purchase your ticket online. Click below to book your admission and access the Bell Tower in an instant.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa: Reserved Entrance
Purchase online. Choose the time of your choice. Visit the famous Tower of Pisa, the Duomo and the Piazza dei Miracoli.
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Atop the Tower of Pisa
Arriving at the top of the Leaning Tower, in the belfry, you will find 7 bells: Assunta, Crucifix, San Ranieri, Dal Pozzo, Pasquereccia, Terza and Vespruccio.
Each of them holds a musical note, that’s why there are 7 of them! Their sound is not limited to a single tone; a harmony of harmonics and vibrations unfolds in the air, creating an orchestra of chimes.
The best known among the 7 is definitely the St. Ranieri’s Bell (of note Re#3), which, however, has not always carried this name.
Originally, it was called Justice and resounded within the walls of the Palace of Justice, announcing death sentences with its solemn chimes. Legend has it that among its echoes resounded the one that marked the tragic end of Count Ugolino della Gherardesca.
In the 15th century, the Justice bell left its ghoulish role to climb to the top of the Tower of Pisa, replacing the Pasquareccia bell, which as the name suggests, used to celebrate the feast of Easter. Justice, on the other hand, was associated with more solemn and dramatic events, marking the crucial moments of city life.
In 1606, the bell underwent a refusion, taking on the appearance and name we know today: the Bell of San Ranieri. From this moment, it became a symbol of devotion to Pisa’s patron saint, Saint Ranieri, embodying the values of faith and hope that he represented.
The Crucifix Bell, of note C#3, was originally cast in 1572 by Vincenzo Possenti and recast in 1818 by Gualandi da Prato.
The presence of the Crucifix on the bell symbolizes the religious devotion of the city of Pisa and the central role of the Christian faith in the daily life and celebrations of the community.
Bells, including that of the Crucifix, were not only instruments to mark time, but also means to call the faithful to prayer and to mark important events in the life of the city.
The earliest bell is the Pasquereccia, in fact, dates back to 1262 and is the work of Lotteringio di Bartolomeo.
All together, the Bells weigh around 9 tons and the heaviest is the Campana Assunta which weighs2.5 tons and is the work of Francesco Orlandi.
Of the Campana Dal Pozzo there is a copy, the original one was damaged during the bombing of the World War II and replaced.
The bells, still in use today, are operated by an electronic system.
Indeed, over time, the vibrations produced by the sounds of the Bells were a problem for the stability of the Leaning Tower.
The Bells served to mark the liturgical life and the religious calendar; in fact, each Bellrepresents a liturgical moment to which the faithful are reminded during the day, such as the vespro or the third hour of the day or important religious holidays such as Easter.
Tower of Pisa bells: conclusions
Here we have come to the end of this post on the Campane della Torre of Pisa, in which we looked together at what the Campane are and the origin of their names, the curiosities about them, and where they are found.
If you need more information, leave a comment below; or if you are curious to see the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa and its belfry firsthand buy your admission ticket by skipping the ticket line at the ticket office.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa: Reserved Entrance
Purchase online. Choose the time of your choice. Visit the famous Tower of Pisa, the Duomo and the Piazza dei Miracoli.
You can cancel for free up to the day before the visit.
