The basilica of Santo Stefano is one of the largest churches in Milan (Italy) and stands a few steps away from Milan Cathedral. The bell tower is one of the most beautiful in Lombardy and houses five bells, all of which can still only be played by bellringers with strings and a mechanical keyboard. The concert of bells is pitched in the diatonic scale of E major. The bells cannot move due to problems of instability of the bell supports; the church is waiting for generous contributors to restore the beautiful bells.
bell #1 (musical note B) C. Ottolina, 1949
bell #2 (musical note A) C. Ottolina, 1949
bell #3 (musical note G sharp) C. Ottolina, 1949
bell #4 (musical note F sharp) C. Ottolina, 1949
bell #5 (musical note E) C. Ottolina, 1949
The first church was built in 367 on the site of the murder of three Christians by the Arian emperor. The relics of St Stephen were moved to the church of St Zacharias, next to the body of Martinianus, who had wanted this temple to be built. The church then changed its name to St Stephen's. On Holy Monday 1075, a devastating fire destroyed part of the town centre, including the old church of St Stephen from which it had started. The church was rebuilt in Romanesque style with three naves, embellished in 1112 with the construction of a narthex. On 26 December 1476, Duke Galeazzo Maria Sforza was assassinated in front of the church gate by some nobles on his way to Mass. The church holds the entire bodies of no less than eight holy bishops of Milan. On 30 September 1571, the famous painter Caravaggio was baptised in this church. From 1629 onwards, the side chapels and the façade were arranged, which was still being completed in 1642 when the basilica's bell tower collapsed disastrously, destroying a large part of the nearby church of San Bernardino alle ossa. The new tower was completed by the Quadrio family in 1696. The church was closed by the French in 1798 and unfortunately fell into ruin, despite the restorations that took place once Italy had been freed from the invaders. The basilica was almost destroyed by a second terrible fire in 1873 and restored by Cesare Nava. Since 1994, the church has been the seat of the General Chaplaincy for Migrants, a parish since 2 February 2015.
0:00 Introduction of the documentary
2:16 Ringing of the bells
#bells #church #catholic #catholicchurch #bell #culture #italy #concert #Milan #tourism #documentary
31 июл 2024
