Bell-Ringing Tradition Lives On in Sardinian Town's Sound Garden

A citizens' committee in Lunamatrona, Sardinia, is preserving the town's bell-ringing tradition by teaching it to schoolchildren in a specially created "sound garden" while the church bell tower undergoes safety work. The committee, now with 80 members, includes the last master bell-ringers like Antonio Cauli, who learned the oral tradition in the 1960s, and Angela Merici, one of only three female bell-ringers in Sardinia. They practice rhythms using cutlery and bottles before progressing to actual bells. Beyond practical instruction, the group conducts archival research and recordings, and will soon open a "Micromuseum" recreating a past domestic environment to showcase local history and keep the ancient art alive for new generations.