Bell of Small Portuguese Village Tolls Big Message of Peace
- @ Cynthia Adina Kirkwood
- May 3
- 1 min read
Updated: May 4
(Photo from Diário as Beiras)
On May 7th, a bell will ring 1,620 times in the village of Benfeita, Arganil Municipality. There is one toll for each day of the Second World War in this 81-year ritual.
On the same date in 1945, a telephone call announced the end of the bloody conflict in which Portugal maintained neutrality.The bell of the new tower rang out the news of Germany unconditionally surrendering its military forces to the Allies. Since then, the Portuguese community in Coimbra District has stayed faithful to the custom, according to Arganil Município (April 28).
"As long as there is a community willing to ring this bell 1,620 times, peace will never be forgotten," said Luís Paulo Costa, president of Arganil Municipality. "Benfeita shows the world that even a small village can hold a great lesson in humanity."
The ringing of the bell marks the start of three days of activities in the 2026 Peace Festival.
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