Campanone o Torre Civica (Civic Tower Big Bell), Bergamo

The Civic Tower, a historic monument in the city of Bergamo, is an integral part of the Bergamo History Museum network. The construction of the tower took place between the 11th and 12th centuries.

Originally used as a tower-house owned by the influential Suardi family, who belonged to the Ghibelline faction, the tower stood at a height of 37 meters. Over the years, it underwent small but continuous expansion interventions, typical of the Middle Ages, allowing it to reach its current height of 56 meters, making it the tallest tower in Bergamo.

From the top of the tower, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of both the upper and lower cities, the surrounding plains, and the mountainous Orobie Pre-Alps. The tower houses a set of three bells mounted on an iron framework.

The largest bell, known as "Big Bell," is the largest bell in Lombardy. Cast in 1656 by the Veronese bell-founder Bartolomeo Pisenti, it replaced the previous bells that had been damaged. The bell's casting process faced challenges, with the first two attempts resulting in an explosion of the mold in 1652 and the bell cracking after only a few months in 1653. The diameter of the bell measures 2.07 meters, and its weight is estimated to be around 5580 kg, approximately 300 kg heavier than the door. Tuned to the fundamental frequency of 440 Hz, the bell produces the note F#2 +20 cents. The bell is adorned with a rich Mannerist-style ornamentation and bears inscriptions in Latin both inside and outside the vase.

The middle bell, known as the mizzen bell, dates back to 1949 and was cast by Angelo Ottolina from Bergamo. Although it features a modern shape, the mizzen bell incorporates the original decorations. With a diameter of 1.15 meters and a weight of 915 kg, it produces the note E3 + 30 cents when tuned to the fundamental frequency of 440 Hz. Similar to the large bell, it exhibits notable Mannerist ornamentation.

The smallest and oldest bell was cast in 1474 by Gasparino da Vicenza. It has a diameter of 0.93 meters and weighs approximately 480 kg. Tuned to the fundamental frequency of 440 Hz, the bell produces the note G3# +20 cents.