Atti, Vol. LIV No. 1, 2025.
Preliminary communication
GALLESANO-GALIŽANA: TWO HOLY BRONZES OF THE RESTORED BELL TOWER
Franco Stener
; Associazione culturale “Fameia Muiesana” Muggia - Italia
Abstract
The requisitions of bells for war purposes in the Austro-Hungarian Empire following
the outbreak of the First World War affected Istria as well, the town of Gallesano-
Galižana in particular. Fortunately, the bell from 1430 which belonged to St
Anthony’s Church was spared; it was stored in a safe place at the Pula Museum.
The same thing was not possible for the early medieval bells belonging to various
little local churches which, albeit modest in size, were treasured at the ancient
cemetery Church of St Justus. In the aftermath of the war, “L’Opera di soccorso per
le chiese rovinate dalla guerra” (Foundation for Assistance of Churches Destroyed
by War) based in the Doge’s Palace in Venice provided for new bells for the Istrian
churches as well. Gallesano-Galižana received two beautiful church bells cast in
1919 at the Francesco D’Adda & Sons Foundry based in Crema (Cremona), one
of the foundries granted the authority for this task. It is the first time that bells
cast in the said foundry were reported in Istria, which makes them all the more
“precious”.
Keywords
church bells, First World War, Istria, Gallesano-Galižana, Crema, D’Adda Foundry
Hrčak ID:
332143
URI
Publication date:
16.6.2025.
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