The Bell Tower of Castrocaro Terme, commonly known as the “Campanone”, was built on the ruins of an ancient tower guarding the gate of San Giovanni, at the top of the old town.
Struck by lightning on 21 June 1497 and destroyed by the explosion of the dust contained within it, it was transformed into the Clock Tower. Today it houses two bells, the largest of which, cast in 1841 by the Balestra brothers from Cesena, has a diameter of 1.25 m and weighs 13 quintals. This is the largest bell in Emilia Romagna. It is manually operated by the Compagnia dei Campanari on the occasion of the main civil and religious festivities.
Source: “Castrocaro. Il patrimonio artistico, architettonico e ambientale di Castrocaro, Terra del Sole e Pieve Salutare”, di Elio Caruso ed Elisabetta Caruso. Società editrice “Il Ponte” di Cesena (FC) – 2019
