L’ANTICA TRADIZIONE PRODUTTIVA, IL RESTAURO E LA MANUTENZIONE DELLE CAMPANE DELLA FONDERIA VIRGADAMO A BURGIO, IN SICILIA

Giovanni Gatto1, Gaspare Massimo Ventimiglia2

1 Architetto, Cultore della Materia Restauro

2 Università degli Studi di Palermo, Scuola Politecnica, Dipartimento d’Architettura

ABSTRACT

The bell towers significantly characterize the image of old towns. They are one of the most obvious architectural signs in order to locate religious buildings. The bell towers mark the time with the sound of their bells, announce events and remind people to pray. The bells belong to the local cultural heritage and their sound dialogue with the community.

The paper presents the olden technique of production of bells and introduces in detail the methods of maintenance and restoration of the bronze bells created in the Virgadamo Foundry, which has existed for five centuries in Burgio, Sicily.

Parole chiave/Key-words:

Bell, bronze, maintenance, restoration