Agnone - land of bells
- jojoharvey1970
- Nov 2, 2025
- 2 min read
28 September 2025
On Saturday 28th September, the intermediate-advanced group travelled with Pierdomenico of https://trippinmolise.it/ to Agnone in Alto Molise, about an hour's drive from our base in Colli a Volturno.
Agnone stands on a hill overlooking the valley of the Verrino River. The wide valley can be spotted from various points along the streets of the town. Every terrace or panoramic viewing point showcases a different side of the mountain, with its abundance of cultivated fields, forests, woods, and scattering of houses. Agnone, an ancient Samnite city, is home to what is supposed to be the oldest factory in the world for making bells.
The Marinelli Pontificial foundry
Marinelli Pontifical Bell Foundry is the oldest foundry in Italy and one of the oldest in the world specializing in the art of bells. The village of Agnone was home to several family dynasties that specialized in crafting bells, but the Marinelli Pontifical Bell Foundry is the only one that has survived eight centuries of repeatedly handing down this ancient art from father to son. It holds the world record as the oldest family-run artisan company, with the 27th generation of founders from the Marinelli dynasty working there today
Over the many centuries of its history, the Marinelli Bell Foundry has seen its difficult moments highlighted by many satisfactory moments. One of the most significant moments for the Marinelli family was in 1924, the year in which Pope Pio XI granted them the privilege of portraying the Papal Coat of Arms in their works. The most memorable highlight of recent years is still the time when Pope John Paul II came to visit the foundry in 1995 for the celebration of Saint Joseph the Artisan.
The Marinelli foundrymen have traced the art of melting metal for bells back to 1339, the year in which Nicodemo Marinelli “Campanarus Anglonensis” signed a bronze of about 50 kg. These historical notes were replicated on a more recent bell that was recast from the original bronze.
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