Perched atop a lush green hill that offers stunning vistas of surrounding Rovereto, the Bell for the Fallen is worth the climb. See this vast bell, said to be the largest ringing bell in the world, and reflect upon the message it carries. Sometimes also known as the Bell of Peace, the bell regularly rings in remembrance of all the soldiers who have ever fallen in any war throughout history. Let the bell speak to you for your own service and that of your ancestors.
The bell was created in 1924 in the nearby town of Trento, capital of the Trentino region of Northern Italy. Bronze was taken from cannons belonging to the nations involved in World War I, then melted down and re-formed into the bell’s shape. Come today to see a bell that has been recast and repaired several times due to damage, once in 1939 and again in 1960. It has also been given a Catholic baptism, with the name Maria Dolens, and was once blessed by Pope Paul VI.
Listen to the bell toll 100 times every evening at dusk. The sound is a daily reminder to remember those lost in war. For a close-up view of the bell, head to the summit of the Colle di Miravelle, stopping to appreciate lovely vistas of the town of Rovereto along the way.
Visit the exhibit on the bell’s history, housed in the small museum area. Learn about the story of the bell through video and photographs. Set off into the woods to enjoy a tranquil walk leading to the Sacrario Monumentale di Casteldante or the Castel Dante Shrine. Within are the remains of over 20,000 mostly anonymous soldiers, who originally hailed from Italy, Austria, Hungary and lands that are now the Czech Republic. Enter the tomb to see the list of the names that are known.
Find the Bell of the Fallen in the town of Rovereto, which is less than a 30-minute drive from Trento. The 18th-century buildings of this historic town are particularly striking seen from this hilltop vantage point.
