Bronze

see “More information”

1353 – 1932

see “More information”

Facade. Southern section. Attic

http://c.vatican.va/content/vatican/it/ra/campane/altre-informazioni.html

The first bell tower dates back to the 8th century.

On the night of June 30, 1303, the bells collapsed and were destroyed in a fire.  They were later recast under Pope Boniface VIII ( 1294-1303 ), but damaged again in 1352. In the following years Pope Innocent VI (1352-1362) ordered the casting of  the ‘great bell’- the so-called campanone - the second bell – known as the campanoncino- and a third bell - known as the Rota. The fourth bell- called the Preacher- and the fifth and smallest bell - which bears the inscription Ave Maria - were saved and readapted.
   Around 1641 they were moved to the bell tower built under Urban VIII (1623-1644 ) by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. However, due to subsidence in the foundations, a few days after the inauguration a large part of the tower  had to be destroyed.
    In 1724 Benedict XIII ( 1724-1731 ) added the sixth bell . The new automated bell-ringing system was inaugurated on November 4, 1931 by Pope Pius XI ( 1922-1939) .
    The six bells of the Basilica, as seen today, were placed in the southern section of the attic at the time of Pius VI ( 1775-1799 ). They play an important role: their sound, ringing out in plenum, signals the positive outcome of conclave. This measure was adopted in order to dispel any doubts about the color of the smoke ahead of the Habemus Papam announcement.
    The plenum, which is the ringing out of all six bells, also takes place at the major solemnities of the liturgical year: the singing of the Gloria during the Easter Vigil, the singing of the Gloria during the Christmas Vigil, for the Pope’s Urbi et Orbi Blessing and for the feast of the patron saints of Rome, Saints Peter and Paul on June 29 after the Angelus.
    You can find a description of the individual bells in "More information"

Plenum for the Papal election;

The ringing of a single bell;

Image of Campanone;

Progect