Riva Bell Noise Debate: Tradition Versus Residents’ Comfort
There are basically two factions in which, in recent days, the residents of Riva have divided: those in favor of the church bells and those against. Even with the football championship just beginning, the main topic in bars has become the ringing of the churches, particularly those of San Giuseppe and Santa Maria Assunta. Excessively loud and causing unnecessary disturbances for those living near the bell towers? Easily tolerable and an untouchable expression of a deeply rooted religious tradition? An heated and very felt debate, in short. We went to listen to both sides of the…bells.
“Simply deafening,” say in unison some employees of Bar Italia and a couple of patrons at the well-known venue whose tables are located just a few meters from the bells of Santa Maria Assunta. “They ring multiple times a day, for long minutes and at an unbearable volume – continue the employees – making it practically impossible to take orders while the bells are ringing. Often, customers cannot resist and leave, covering their ears.”
The noise could not fail to interest the guests of nearby hotels. “At breakfast,” explain at Hotel Vittoria on Viale Dante, “almost all guests comment on the grand ‘concert’ at seven. But to be honest: no one has ever complained too much.” At Hotel Giglio, however, perhaps due to its more favorable (or unfavorable?) location, the bells are heard all too well, and complaints are a daily occurrence.
Position of the Parish Priests and Citizens’ Protests
On the other side, Don Elio Bragagna, parish priest of San Giuseppe, and Don Oliviero Delmarco, priest at the church of Santa Maria Assunta, seem quite surprised by these complaints. “Thanks to the sound of the new bells,” reveals Don Elio, “several parishioners have told me that they finally feel part of a community, but if someone believes that they ring for too long, nothing prevents reducing their duration. I am always available to listen to everyone’s advice and ideas.”
“Ever since, bells have been true means of communication,” explains Don Oliviero, “and their tolling has different meanings. They can announce joy or sorrow and, frankly, it is disturbing to know that they cause annoyance. The only solution is to reduce the duration of their tolls.”
A resident in the city center asks the priests to find a solution: “Parish Priests, have mercy on our eardrums.”
Reactions from the Historic Center
If Rione Degasperi laments, the historic center of Riva doesn’t laugh. At least, this is according to Sergio De Lucia, who lives on the very central Via Lipella and is dealing with the prolonged tolling of the bells from the cathedral church.
“Regarding the article published in your newspaper on October 5,” writes De Lucia, “and concerning a reader’s complaints about the deafening noise of the bells sounded in the ‘Rione,’ I want to point out that the bells ringing from the Arcipretal Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Piazza Cavour are equally bothersome. Personally, I wrote over two months ago to the parish priest (who has since been transferred elsewhere), and I have yet to receive any response. Specifically, my complaint was not so much about the loudness of the sound (which is indeed very high) but about the excessively high number of tolls, not fewer than 70-80 each time!
Is it really possible for the Church to use the bells in such an annoying way, turning a beloved popular tradition into an act of poor civility that makes the Church appear overbearing and disrespectful of everyone’s right to rest, especially those working late into the night? I would like to invite all readers affected by this annoyance to write a few lines to Alto Adige supporting this civil and just protest, hoping that the Parish Priests will soon take measures to bring everything back to the rightTracks of common sense and civil coexistence. Thank you.”
