Marinelli Bell Foundry Museum

The Marinelli Bell Foundry Museum in Agnone, Italy, showcases the ancient art of bell-making by the Marinelli family, one of the oldest bell foundries in the world. Visitors can observe traditional bell-crafting techniques, view a collection of historic and contemporary bells, and learn about the foundry’s significant role in Italian craftsmanship and industrial history. The museum offers guided tours and educational programs suitable for all ages, providing an immersive experience into the world of bell-making.

Planning your visit

The Marinelli foundry in Agnone has been casting bells since around the year 1000, making it one of the oldest continuously operating family businesses in the world. It holds a papal privilege granted by Pius XI allowing it to use the papal coat of arms, and it has supplied bells to churches across Italy and beyond for a millennium.

The museum displays historic and contemporary bells, moulds, tools and the wax models used in casting, but the working foundry is the real attraction. Bells are still made by the lost-wax method: a clay core built up, the bell shape modelled in tallow and wax, an outer mould formed over it, the wax melted out and bronze poured in. The decoration is applied in wax before casting, so every bell is unique.

When a pour is scheduled, watching molten bronze go into the mould is unforgettable.

Agnone sits in Molise, one of Italy's least visited regions.

Bookable options are guided tours of the museum and foundry. Current availability is shown below.