The sound of the ancient bells in the Duomo in Barga Vecchia rang out over the city this evening as the Easter celebrations started in earnest thanks to the hard work and dedication of the Campanari of Barga who for many years been practising their art here in Barga.
They can quite rightly throw out their chests when they speak about their bells and techniques (not to mention all the essential maintenance work carried out by their members on the bells) as the group has representatives of four generations working side by side making sure that the sound of their bells can be heard right across the valley.
But first this evening the bells had to be untied and released from the ropes which have been silencing them for the past two days. After the Gloria in Excelsis Deo at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper all church bells are silenced and the organ is not used. The period that lasted from Thursday morning to Saturday evening was once, in Anglo-Saxon times, referred to as “the still days”
The Campanari have their own site which can be seen here