What to see
Beyond traditional bell casting, the foundry's output includes bronze portals, bas-reliefs, and various church artifacts, alongside the restoration of damaged historical pieces. The reach of the Marinelli workshop is vast. Among their most prominent modern commissions is a 600-kilogram (1,300 lb) replica of a 17th-century bell for the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which replaced an original damaged in 1944 during World War II bombings and entered service on Easter 2004. Other major works include a 1923 set of bells for the Mariano Sanctuary in Pompeii, a 1950 bell for the church of San Benedetto at Monte Cassino, and commemorative pieces for the 1961 centenary of Italy's unification and the 1992 quincentenary of Christopher Columbus's voyage to the Americas. In 2000, the official Jubilee Bell was presented to Pope John Paul II and hung in St. Peter's Square. Further Marinelli bells are installed at the United Nations Building in New York City, the UN FAO headquarters in Rome, Beijing, Jerusalem, South America, and South Korea.
Visiting
Understanding the Marinelli operation means observing the lost wax casting technique, a method the founders utilized nearly a thousand years ago. Artisans use wax to transfer specific designs onto a brick core slathered with clay, which is built slightly smaller than the intended bell. Another layer of clay is applied over this to form a false bell. Once the clay hardens, the wax inside is melted away, leaving a perfect imprint of the design on the interior surface. Finally, molten bronze is poured into the cavity at a temperature of around 1,200 degrees Celsius (2,190 degrees Fahrenheit).
Our editors' tip
Pay close attention to the intricate designs formed during the wax application stage. This ancient method ensures that the decorative bas-relief imprints are flawlessly transferred to the bronze during the extreme heat of the casting process.