Let us now lift our gaze to the bell tower. Before us stands a slender and elegant structure, a perfect example of Romanesque architecture in Lazio, capable of combining sobriety with solidity.
The bell tower, built between the 11th and 12th centuries, rises to almost thirty meters. It presents itself as a tower with multiple superimposed levels, each slightly narrower than the one below. This progressive reduction is not merely an aesthetic device, but also an ingenious solution to ensure stability and visual lightness.
Notice the window openings, which change as one ascends. On the first level, there are simple single-light windows, small and sturdy; on the second, simplified double-light windows appear; while on the last two levels, elegant triple-light windows lighten the mass of the masonry. The triple-light windows are composed of marble columns and capitals with highly varied profiles. This rhythmic crescendo of openings is typical of Romanesque bell towers and gives the tower a sense of ascending harmony. The lower part of the masonry is made with local stone, while the upper part is built with brick.
It served as a point of reference for the monastic and agricultural community living in the village that grew around the abbey: with its bells it called people to prayer, celebrated festivals, mourned the dead, marked the work of the fields, and warned of danger.
