One of the ancient traditions of Barga has been renewed, much to the delight of inhabitants of the city – it is the ringing of the bell in the Duomo to let people know that midday has arrived.
There is always the sound of the bells at twelve o clock but this is rung by a mechanical system consisting of a large hammer connected by a system of wires running the full height of the bell tower in the Duomo striking the bell, but on Saturday there was the original system of the bell being rung by hand sounding out of Barga Vecchia.
Older readers of barganews will remember when this was done every day, twice day. Once at midday to tell the workers that it was time to stop work and eat and then again in the evening to tell them to return back to the city for the night.
Unfortunately the bell ringers who did this daily chore have all died of old age or retired.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZypCQ04ibDo
Cristian Tognarelli has stepped into the breach and revived this old tradition albeit not on a regular basis but still the sound of the bells once more over the city made many of the older residents smile and look forward to the next event on Saturday when he will once more battle with his competing emotions of his fear of heights against his love of bell ringing (yes, he IS a bellringer with Acrophobia who has to climb to the top of the Duomo bell tower to practice his Campanology)
Duomo di Barga – Campana del Mezzogiorno, prossimo appuntamento sabato 23 maggio ore 12. – video by Cristian Tognarelli