The former cathedral of Bojano is dedicated to St Bartholomew the Apostle, patron saint of the city and of the Campobasso-Bojano archdiocese, of which it is now the co-cathedral. The ancient Bojano diocese was in fact annexed to Campobasso, to which its cathedra was moved, in 1927, while in 1973-6 it became first an archdiocese and then a metropolia, completely ceasing to depend on the metropolitan of Benevento. The earliest evidence of the present building dates back to 1073, while an early bell tower was built in the second half of the 13th century. Almost completely destroyed by an earthquake, the cathedral was rebuilt in the early 16th century; the same happened after the earthquake of July 1805. The bombing in 1943 spared only the bell tower and the presbytery, while the rest of the church was rebuilt. During some works, the remains of the ancient apse of the church were found, near which there is a still active water spring*.
The bell tower houses several bells, the result of different works and recasts. The following is the chronology of the recasts: big bell, 1905-1967(breakage and recast); bell no. 2, 1708(requisition)-1952(restitution); bell no. 3, 1892(requisition)-1952(restitution); bell no. 4, 1525(recast)-1812(requisition)-1952(restitution).
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☛ Set of seven (5+2) bells:
1. h - Marinelli Foundry (Agnone, IS), 1967;
2. e - Paolo Capanni (Castelnovo Ne' Monti, RE), 1952;
3. g - Paolo Capanni (Castelnovo Ne' Monti, RE), 1952;
4. c - Paolo Capanni (Castelnovo Ne' Monti, RE), 1952;
5. f - Giuseppe Polzella (Sassinoro, BN), 1792;
6 (hours). f - Camerchioli (Agnone, IS), 1812;
7 (quarters). d flat - anonymous, 1480*.
*The date M CCCC LXXX is clearly legible on the bell, but stylistic analysis places it at least in the following century.
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Presentation of the individual bells, expanse of the historic bell and plenum. For the sound of the three minor bells and the solo of the major bell: • Campane della Concatte... .
Thanks to Gabriele and Riccardo for the hospitality and organisation of the visit.
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For further information: bellsalerno@gmail.com
Website of the Italian Association of Bell-Ringing: www.campanologia.org/
* digilander.libero.it/Tenebre1...
©Ermenegildo Guerra, 19/11/23
USE PROHIBITED: The multimedia material in this video is the intellectual property of the author