Italy’s oldest foundry, family-owned for generations, casts ceremonial bells for churches and sanctuaries worldwide while operating as an active workshop and museum.
At a glance
The Marinelli foundry stands as one of the world’s oldest family companies, specializing in the art and craft of bell-casting. Located in Agnone, in the province of Isernia, the workshop combines working foundry with museum spaces, allowing visitors to witness traditional bell-making techniques and view the Marinelli family’s historical bell fragments and tools.
History
The Marinelli family has managed this metallurgical enterprise for many generations, establishing it as Italy’s longest-operating foundry. Until the early twentieth century, the foundry occupied a single large rectangular workshop with a low ceiling, situated in an open rural landscape. After the Second World War, the family undertook significant renovations, expanding the workshop and creating dedicated rooms to house their collection of heirlooms and historical artifacts. The accumulation of visitors from across Italy prompted the conversion of these spaces into a formal museum. UNESCO’s designation of the foundry as a World Heritage Site solidified its dual role as both active workshop and cultural institution.
What you see
The foundry preserves its original workshop section, where ancient hand-forged tools, bronze and tin casting equipment, and traditional ovens remain unchanged. The museum galleries display fragments from damaged or destroyed bells in glass cases with multilingual interpretive labels. Visitors can observe the casting room where molten metal transforms into bells. The foundry’s bell collection reflects commissions for major European and Latin American institutions, including the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary in Pompeii, Montecassino, and the Cathedral of Buenos Aires.
Cultural significance
The Marinelli foundry represents centuries of unbroken metallurgical tradition and family stewardship. The workshop cast the Jubilee 2000 bell “Giovannea” for Pope John Paul II, exemplifying the foundry’s role in major religious commissions. In 2002, following the Molise earthquake, the foundry incorporated memorial practices into its visitor experience—an expert bell-ringer performs classical pieces and “Ave Maria” on hanging bells of varying tones to commemorate the disaster.
Key facts
- Address: Via D’Onofrio 14, Agnone, Molise
- Coordinates: 41.81002806807708, 14.37610924243927
- Phone: 0865 78235
- Website: http://campanemarinelli.com/
- UNESCO World Heritage Site designation
Practical information
The foundry operates as both a working workshop and museum open to school groups and international visitors. A small ticket office and souvenir room precede the main museum galleries. Opening hours and admission fees are available on the official website.
Getting there
Agnone is located in the province of Isernia in Molise, southern Italy. The foundry is situated at Via D’Onofrio 14. For detailed directions and visiting information, contact the foundry directly or consult their official website.
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