L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2025 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano 2 I t is no coincidence that Italy is often described as "the land of a hun- d r e d b e l l t o w e r s . " While this expression is sometimes used to highlight divisiveness, suggesting that everyone looks out for them- selves at the expense of unity a n d c o m m o n p u r p o s e , i t i s also a highly accurate depic- tion of the country. In reality, Italy has far more than a hun- dred bell towers — there are at least 100,000 churches, The soundscape of Italy, a land of a hundred bell towers From the Editor including 25,000 parishes spread across 226 dioceses. Using this phrase acknowledges their overwhelming presence. Each of these 100,000 churches has a bell tower, meaning that, across Italy, an extraordinary number of bells are ring- ing. So, when in December 2024 the Intergovernmental Com- mittee of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangi- ble Cultural Heritage extended to Italy the recognition that Spain had already received two years earlier — declaring that traditional bell-ringing is part of the Intangible Cultural Her- itage of Humanity — no one was particularly surprised. After all, bells and their varied chimes have always been part of Italy's cultural fabric. Just as churches shape the landscape, their din-don-dan forms the soundtrack of daily life in both villages and cities. The UNESCO designation formally recognized the tech- niques of bell-ringing, the craftsmanship behind their pro- duction, the architectural structures of historic bell towers and their belfries. It codified the material and immaterial components embedded within the bronze alloy from which bells are skillfully cast in foundries. However, it did not add value to something that already had plenty, and has always been an intrinsic part of every Italian's memory: for genera- tions, people have structured their days around the sound of bells, from morning wake-ups to dinnertime. When the hours and half-hours chime in the air, they don't just mark time — they set the rhythm of daily life, providing an audito- ry framework for routines of home, school, and work. In places where city traffic is less overwhelming, and the sounds of bells remain unobstructed, their role is even more pronounced. In many communities, especially rural ones, bells function as true social instruments: they punctuate and amplify the collective voice — whether religious, political, or emotional — of an entire population. Yet, if we take a moment to reflect, we cannot help but appreciate the beauty of certain bell sounds and the harmo- ny of their melodies. But those chimes — whether a deep or a delicate ring — are far more than just the strike of a clapper. Behind each bell lies a combination of material elements: the bell tower, the belfry, the supporting framework, the struc- tural design, the specific metal composition that influences the acoustics. Then there are the intangible elements: the artisanal expertise of foundry workers, the motor and ges- tural techniques of bell-ringers, and the entire ritualistic and semiotic system associated with chimes, understood and shared within each parish or community. There is also a deep technical and musical knowledge that intertwines with the very materials of the bells, extending into cross-discipli- nary skills, from the structural properties of the towers that house them to the social conventions governing their use. Bells have their own language, encoding festivals, activities, and traditional ceremonies in their chimes. It is now clear why UNESCO's recognition of bell-ringing as an art was much more than just a seal of quality. It was about safeguarding cultural heritage, ensuring the intergen- erational transmission of knowledge and techniques, and fostering creativity —not only in crafting new bells but also in composing new harmonies. Beautiful to see and hear, bells have accompanied Italians through both history and daily life. They are both memory and heritage, yesterday and today. A sound that is undeniably precious, telling a story of Italy itself. Simone Schiavinato, Editor Simone Schiavinato NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS Member of FUSIE (Federazione Unitaria Stampa Italianaall'Estero), COGITO L'Italo-Americano Please send correspondence to P.O. Box 40156 Pasadena CA 91114 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano Newspaper (a 501(c)(3) non- profit organization), www.italoamericano.org, is the largest and longest-running Italian news- paper in America, not to mention the cultural and news resource for all things Italian in the US. A bilingual newspaper which represents an historical landmark for the Italian American Communities in the West Coast and throughout the US. L'Italo-Americano benefits from subsidies by the Italian Government, Memberships and Donations intended to support and not interrupt a mission that began in 1908 to preserve and promote the Italian language and culture in the USA Periodicals postage paid at Monrovia, California 91016, and additional mailing offices. PUBLISHER Robert Barbera Grande Ufficiale EDITOR IN CHIEF Simone Schiavinato ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER Patrick Abbate EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Barbara Minafra COPY EDITOR Francesca Bezzone LOS ANGELES CONTRIBUTOR Silvia Nittoli SAN FRANCISCO CONTRIBUTOR Serena Perfetto SEATTLE CONTRIBUTOR Rita Cipalla CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mariella Radaelli, Matt Walker, Francesca Bezzone, Luca Ferrari, Stefano Carnevali, Paula Reynolds, Teresa Di Fresco Nicoletta Curradi, Generoso D'Agnese, Jessica S. Levy, Fabrizio Del Bimbo, Maria Gloria, Chuck Pecoraro, Anthony Di Renzo Serena Perfetto, Kenneth Scambray, Chiara D'Alessio, Luca Signorini, Giulia Franceschini © 2024 L'Italo-Americano Membership: One year $59 - Single copy $2.25 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to L'Italo Americano P.O. 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