Spain recovers lost 'language' of ringing church bells by hand

Joan Carles Osuna, a student of the Vall d'en Bas School of Bell Ringers, performs playing all four bronze bells at the church bell tower of the12th-century Sant Romà church, at the village of Joanetes, about two hours north of Barcelona, Spain, June 29, 2024. View of the bell tower of the12th-century Sant Romà church, where students of the Vall d'en Bas School of Bell Ringers perform playing bells, at the tiny village of Joanetes, about two hours north of Barcelona, Spain, June 29, 2024. Xavier Masó, a student of the Vall d'en Bas School of Bell Ringers, performs playing two bronze bells at the church bell tower of the12th-century Sant Romà church, at the tiny village of Joanetes, about two hours north of Barcelona, Spain, June 29, 2024.

Xavier Pallàs plants his feet on the belfry floor, grips the rope, and with one tug fills the lush Spanish valley below with the reverberating peal of a church bell.