Italy s oldest bell-making shop turns to online overseas sales to keep ancient craft alive
In Italy, turreted church towers are part of the country s fabric, as are the bronze bells in the belfry that call the faithful to mass. But as church attendance has dropped, so has demand for the giant bronzes, so bell makers are turning to online sales to keep their craft alive.
Social Sharing
Demand from overseas churches, Buddhist temples has offset the drop in orders from Catholic churches in Italy
Posted: Dec 21, 2020 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: December 23, 2020
Master bell maker Antonio Delli Quadri, 83, was just 15 when he started helping cast bells inside Italy s oldest bell foundry, run by the Marinelli family in the town of Agnone. The workshop is one of five remaining foundries in Italy, which once boasted dozens. (Megan Williams/CBC)