The only peal of change ringing bells in Spain

Located in the Palacio neighborhood of Madrid, the Real Basílica de San Francisco el Grande is a Roman Catholic basilica built between 1761 and 1784. The current structure replaced a primitive Franciscan convent, which was demolished on the orders of Charles III. The new building was designed in a Neoclassic style based on a design by Francisco de las Cabezas, developed by Antonio Pló, and completed by Francesco Sabatini.

The basilica is known for its massive dome, which measures 33 metres in diameter and 58 metres in height. Its shape is more circular than typical domes built in the 18th century, making it reportedly the fourth biggest dome in Europe after the Pantheon, St. Peter's Basilica, and the Florence cathedral. The interior features walls painted in the 19th century to house a collection of Spanish paintings from the 17th to 19th centuries, including works by Zurbarán and Francisco Goya.

The church also houses 19 bells divided into two groups: 8 change ringing bells in the south tower and 11 chiming bells in the north tower. The south tower contains the only peal of change ringing bells in Spain, cast by John Warner and Sons in 1882. Although these bells are currently derelict and unringable, they were the only peal of change ringing church bells in mainland Europe until 2017. Today, the site remains an important point of interest for tourists and a national historic-artistic monument.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons