Beghinaggio

Every year on Ascension Day, the Procession of the Holy Blood passes through the historic city center of Bruges. The Procession of the Holy Blood was created in 1304 as an expression of gratitude and faith. More than 1700 participants sing, play music, dance and act. The style of the procession reminds of the Burgundian time when guildsmen, craftsmen, brotherhoods and rhetoric chambers were responsible for the performance of the scenes. The dominating theme is the remembrance of the suffering of Jesus Christ. The biblical narrations constitute the basis of the procession. Thematically, the Procession of the Holy Blood is divided into four parts. The evocation starts with the Old Testament, from Creation to the prophets. Next comes the New Testament, from Birth in Bethlehem to Pentecost. The third part tells how the relic of the Holy Blood ended up in Bruges. In the last part, the members of the Noble Brotherhood of the Holy Blood accompany the shrine in which the precious relic is stored.

A carillon is a musical instrument that is played using a keyboard and that consists of at least 23 bronze bells. The bells must provide a harmonic sound. The carillon first saw the limelight in the 16th century when rich cities, like Bruges, embellished their belfries and steeples with tower bells. In the 17th century, the technique was refined and by the end of the 19th century, the carillon was increasingly used as a musical instrument in its own right, not related, therefore, to towers and churches. Since November 2014, UNESCO has recognised the Belgian carillon culture as Intangible Cultural Heritage. Those of you who wish to listen to a spot of carillon playing in the next few days can do so at the Market Square of Bruges (carillon with 47 bells), the Grootseminarie (theological academy) of Bruges (26 bells), Damme Town Hall (39 bells) and the Church of Lissewege (24 bells).

La torre più importante di Bruges risale al XIII secolo, è alta 83 metri ed è protetta come patrimonio dell’umanità. Chi sale i suoi 366 gradini viene premiato con un panorama mozzafiato su Bruges e dintorni. Lungo la salita, è possibile sostare nella camera del tesoro, dove nel Medioevo venivano conservati l’emblema, il sigillo e la cassa cittadina. Proseguendo, si incontra l’impressionante rullo che aziona il carillon e la tastiera su cui il mastro campanaro suona le 47 campane. Bruges’ Belfry has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999.

Il Beghinaggio principesco “Ten Wijngaarde” con le sue facciate imbiancate e il chiostro immerso nel silenzio fu fondato nel 1245. In questo piccolo angolo di patrimonio mondiale dell’umanità in passato vivevano le beghine, donne laiche emancipate che conducevano una vita casta e pia. Oggigiorno il Beghinaggio è abitato da qualche suora dell’ordine di San Benedetto e donne sole di Bruges. The Beguinage was recognised as a World Heritage site in 1998.