Campanologist Kenneth Cauchi is the guest speaker at this month’s Magic Box event at the Italian Cultural Institute, Valletta, which will be held on Tuesday at 6.30pm.

Cauchi has been interested in campanology – the study of bells and art of bell-ringing – since he was seven, and it has become his life passion. He was the official bell master of St John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta, from 1990 to 1998. Later he specialised in the restoration of cracked historic bells, the topic of his thesis.

Over the past 25 years, he has installed over 60 new bells in Malta and Gozo, including Malta’s largest bell – the Great Siege bell – hanging at the World War II Siege Bell Memorial in Valletta’s Grand Harbour.

In his presentation, entitled L’arte campanaria: collegamenti tra Malta e Italia (The campanological links between Malta and Italy), Cauchi will trace the campanological links that Malta and Italy have  shared since medieval times.

He will explain how bells have always been an integral part of our culture and are still used today by both churches and civic entities to mark important moments in society and everyone’s life.

After his presentation Cauchi will answer questions, and the event will conclude with treats courtesy of Oblico Café, Buġibba, and wine courtesy of Enocult E&B.

Kenneth Cauchi’s presentation on L’arte campanaria: collegamenti tra Malta e Italia will be held at the Italian Cultural Institute, St George’s Square, Valletta, on Tuesday at 6.30pm. All are welcome and admission is free.