Indeed, I could not bear the idea of not carrying on the family tradition and expertise. Each bell is different and each bell maker has his secrets. This is a craft you will not learn in books, but through working side by side with masters, in my case with my grandfather and uncles.

Each bell is one-of-a-kind, its sound is mesmerising. A bell has different souls, you can tell from the sound how it was made and to make it you need to know about music and sculpture, it is a multifaceted craft.

In 2018, one year after the earthquake in Umbria we gathered in Norcia for a festival. Bells had been ringing all day long, breaking the silence and bringing joy. A young girl approached us, asking not to stop as that sound reminded her of life before the tragic event.

Ours was a land of bell makers, now we are the only ones left. Besides bronze, other raw materials we use are local: clay mixed with horsehair and hemp to avoid mould creasing, wax, wood, ash, bricks, and milk (to create a mix used to separate the different moulds).