Bells can be defined, among other things, as musical instruments, bronze sculptures or communication devices; in reality, they encompass all these definitions and more. Very present in the Western soundscape, but often forgotten or ignored, bells are at the centre of a great tangible and intangible heritage. This research aims to study the bells of Canton Ticino in a comprehensive and interdisciplinary manner, with the aim of producing a publication but also of raising awareness of the importance of bell studies among the population of Ticino and the academic world (both Swiss and international). Through the study of bells as products of specialised knowledge (data collected in a comprehensive census already carried out by the author) and the analysis of sound traditions as communication codes specific to each community (documented before their inevitable disappearance), the aim is to provide a picture as broad as possible of a phenomenon that affects Ticino society in many ways, both past and present. Once published in print and digital form, this research will be an important element of Ticino's scientific output and a point of reference for bell studies on an international scale.