Le campane di Luzzogno, Valstrona (VB)

The medieval church of Luzzogno was the first in the entire Strona valley to obtain religious autonomy from the central church of Omegna, when the bishop of Novara created it as a new parish in 1455. The church dedicated to the Apostle James is to all intents and purposes the oldest place of worship in the valley, a history confirmed by the casting of the oldest bell from the historic Mazzola foundry, made in 1475 in a courtyard in the village. The bell was given to the foundry after the casting of the new concert of five bells, cast in 1922. a' flat - b' flat - c'' - d'' flat - e'' flat The five bells are in the key of A-flat major and were made in 1922 by Roberto Mazzola, one of the leading members of this family. The five bells are ringing during the patronal feast of the village, which on 25 July closes all activities to participate in the Mass with procession, in which the Blessed Sacrament is carried, alternated every five years by the presence of the statue of the patron saint. The valley is magnificent and I am happy to have shared this experience with my best friend Luca, whom I consider the smartest bell ringer I know, and author of a cataloguing of all the bells in the province. The medieval church was enlarged during the 16th century, almost reaching its present form, and later entirely rebuilt at the behest of local nobles who had received an important pardon. The interior of the church contains many magnificent paintings and a precious 17th-century gilded wooden altar, made entirely by hand and still perfectly preserved. The parish grew to such an extent that the mountain village was granted the title of autonomous municipality, and in the 18th century it had a fund for all poor families in need. The medieval bell was joined by two new bells in 1764, which were lowered from the bell tower in 1922 to be replaced. #italy #bells #church #bell #culture #landscape #catholic #catholicchurch #cinematic #mountain #2024 #friends