Museo internazionale della campana, Bell making museum at Marinelli Foundry in Agnone, Italy
The Museo internazionale della campana is a collection of bells in various sizes, foundry tools, and documents housed within the Marinelli Foundry in Agnone. The exhibition shows how bell making evolved over centuries, with ancient instruments and written records displayed side by side.
The Marinelli Foundry was founded in the Middle Ages and is one of the oldest family businesses in Europe, still producing bells today. The site has maintained its production tradition despite political and economic changes over centuries.
The museum is located in a foundry where bell casting remains a living practice, and visitors can watch artisans work with molten metal and ancient techniques. You see the foundry as it functions today, with the same methods and tools that have shaped this craft across generations.
Visitors should book in advance, especially if coming in a group, since tours run at set times. It is helpful to check opening hours before arriving, as these vary depending on the season.
A 1664 Dutch treatise titled 'De Tintinnabulis' is held in the collection and was used by bell makers across Europe as a standard reference. This work demonstrates how craft techniques were exchanged across borders.
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