This post have been inspired by my recent trips in Central Italy, in the heart of the earthquaked areas.
Most of the bell towers of the area have been deeply injuried.
Bell towers in Europe are part of the culture of everyone. Even if the towers are normally related to the Churches, the function of the bell tower was in the past much more than a call to pray.
The Bell towers was the center of every village, a clear target visible for kilometers.
The Bell Towers was a clock for all the village, with the medium bell marking the hours, and the small one marking the quarters
The Bell Towers was the first social media, communicating important events, like dead of marriages, or warning everyone for an incoming storm.
I still remember, being a child, how my grandfather was listening the message of the Bells
Bell Tower (campanile in Italian language) is a so important reference for every village that we use the word Campanilismo, to indicate the Parochialism
For this reason, seing a lot of damaged Bell Towers is very painful for me.
Of course, Bells and towers are very important also to other cultures, so feel free to share your Bells, your Towers, your Minarets in here.
Having no more bells tower to mantain, the new Quasimodo of the Sibillini Mountains is moving from village to village, playing the bells and teaching us about the history of every tower.
I met him ten days ago, and now I want to share his concert with you.
It is also a nice system to call the people for any gathering. @ErmesT People make attention easily hearing a sound instead of a loud voice. Interesting thing is when we call anybody, sometimes we use something to make a sound with voice to the targeted persons. Thanks for sharing this.
In Bangladesh it is using in all primary schools as notification about the class time starting or end. There is also a special time in ‘Ramadan’, somebody calling sleepy people to respect the Ramadan by fasting. It is very helpful for all. Thanks @ErmesT !
@ErmesT , in San Francisco there is still a strong Roman Catholic presence. When you come in October, you will easily find these architectural landmarks by simply walking around The City.
Two churches come to mind with beautiful architecture. The first is called St Peter and Paul Church in North Beach (Little Italy). In recent years, it’s been beautifully restored. Famous in movies and where Marilyn Monroe and Joe Dimaggio “got married” there. The “bells” do ring every hour from 6 am to 9 pm. Sundays for service reminders at 9 am - 1 pm via electronically these days. I have fond memories listening to them when I would visit my grandparents. They live close to North Beach, walking distance to this church. Those bells could be (and still) heard all over the neighborhood.
The other Roman Catholic Church is at the beginning of Chinatown called Old St Mary’s Cathedral. What I love about this church is that inside the church the Virgin Mary statue is Chinese-looking. Again, Old St Mary’s has electronic bells these days. I believe they do ring every hour from 8 am - 6 pm Monday - Friday. The California St cable car line stops right in front of this church.
If you have time to go across the Bay (on BART then an easy walk) to Berkeley. You should visit my university, UC Berkeley. One of the many famous architectural buildings is The Campanile (or Sather Tower). You can take an elevator ride to the top, hear the bells if you time it right, and see a breathtaking panoramic view of the Berkeley campus, the East Bay, the Bay, the two Bridges, San Francisco and Marin.
It just celebrated its 100th birthday in 2015 and the University Carillonist is teaching the younger generation to learn how to play the carillon.
You’re welcome @ErmesT . The Campanile takes after the St Mark’s Campanile in Venice. The Berkeley campus has lots of beautiful Beaux Arts architecture, set in rolling hills. The campus at one time was cow pastures in the late 1880s!
Berkeley, the city, had many wonderful architects. One was Julia Morgan. She was inspired by Italian Reninassance. She designed many of the public buildings on the campus and city buildings. She is also famous for being the architect of William Randolph Hearst’s mansion, called Hearst’s Castle.
Thanks for the post @ErmesT . This is a very useful post about bell towers.
In Nepal, at the capital city Kathmandu there is a bell tower called Ghanta Ghar (Ghanta - bell + Ghar - house). It is known as Bell House rather than bell tower.
This building is located in the periphery of well renowned college called Tri-Chandra college; college of Since & Humanities. This picture was taken when I was undergrad student there. There is no charge to visit and observe it. The bell on the tower rings in each 15 minutes producing four consecutive tones. At after each hour it produces a different sound after previous sound. The bell rings with different sound taking the reference of hours i.e rings once at 1 O clock, rings twice at 2 O clock and so on. One can see the clock clearly in the picture. These clocks are present in all four faces of tower. The building attached with it is a college building.
In old days people did not use to plough the field using ox up to the area where the sound of bell was heard. Now there is no area for cropping as the whole valley is urbanized. The operating mechanism of clock is very unique. The good news for us is that this historical landmark stood alive after facing the devastating earthquake 2 years ago. More photos can be seen here.
Time towers and bell towers are found in other parts of country as well.
Haha @ErmesT , you are much closer to Venezia than I am. And I have see the beautiful tower and the Square. Definitely, you should go visit! = )
Here in Las Vegas, there is a hotel called The Venetian which is inspired by all things Venezia. Their Campanile Di San Marco is used for weddings and sightseeing (the view of all Vegas).They even have gondola rides with gondola drivers who sing just like in Venezia that go around the Square.
I’m very late in seeing this post haha but beautiful photo @ErmesT I love discovering bell towers when I travel, it’s very rare to find in my areas. I went to catholic school all my life. My high school, and both colleges had bell towers and it would ring every 12noon for prayer time. We would stop everything for 5 mins to pray the prayer for the angels:innocent:
In Florida there’s an infamous clock tower that had a tree growing from it, which they had to uproot and replant, it’s called the Bok Garden Tower
You are here in the right time @DiAnaUS , I’m posting slowly, when I can, I will probably add more photos in a few days, so everyday is the right day for being here.
A tree inside the tower? Sounds quite strange, as it seems it is not an abandoned place.
@ErmesT The tower was abandoned for some time and became famous to the locals because of the tree growing from it. So it lead to a revitalization of the tower and the tree safely replanted, and has now become somewhat of a botanical garden
due to a very tight schedule
I love discovering bell towers when I travel, it’s very rare to find in my areas. I went to catholic school all my life. My high school, and both colleges had bell towers and it would ring every 12noon for prayer time. We would stop everything for 5 mins to pray the prayer for the angels:innocent: