Quintanar de la Orden recently held an event dedicated to celebrating the town's bell heritage as part of the third heritage days on 14 November. The gathering was attended by Mayor Pablo Nieto Toldos and several members of the municipal corporation.
The event commenced at the Parroquia Santiago de la Espada with a talk by Iván Sánchez, a local resident and president of Campaneros de Toledo. He provided an overview of the history of the bells from local hermitages and the parish, discussing their characteristics, foundry dates, inscriptions, and various interesting facts.
During his presentation, Sánchez highlighted the bell heritage of several local temples, including the hermitages of Virgen de la Piedad, San Antón, San Juan, San Sebastián, and San Isidro. He emphasised the importance of preserving both the tangible and intangible heritage, represented by the traditional sounds and ringing of the bells.
Among the examples shared, he noted a bell dedicated to San Antonio Abad, cast in 1856 and weighing approximately 20 kilos, which originally belonged to the Ermita de San Antón and later to the Ermita de la Virgen de la Piedad. This bell is now housed in the museum of the Santos Patronos. He also discussed the bell from the Ermita de San Sebastián, cast in 1913, and the unique features of the bells from other local temples.
Sánchez explained the characteristics of the four recently restored bells from the Ermita de la Virgen de la Piedad (Intramuros), which now feature Toledo-style yokes and an electrification system, with restoration work carried out by Campanas Rivera from Montehermoso, Cáceres, among other examples that celebrate the bell culture and its history in the local hermitages.
Following the talk, attendees moved to the Plaza del Ayuntamiento to enjoy a concert of manual bell ringing that lasted approximately one hour. The performance featured bells from the Parroquia Santiago de la Espada and the hermitages of Virgen de la Piedad (Intramuros), San Juan, San Sebastián, and Santa Ana.
This event allowed residents to connect with an important part of Quintanar de la Orden's history and traditions, underscoring the value of a heritage that is integral to the cultural identity of the municipality and whose preservation is vital for future generations.
