Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Caucasus - Geghard Monastery, Armenia
Armenia • 15 days, 14 nights
Caucasus Road Trip: Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia
from
Taktsang Lhakhang, also known as the “Tiger’s Nest”.
Bhutan • 11 days, 10 nights
Festivals & Temples of Bhutan
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Abington Friends Meeting House.
Abington Friends Meeting House
Muc Lien’s 18 Gates of Hell.
Muc Lien's 18 Gates of Hell
Lighthouse and Museum of Jára Cimrman (Maják a muzeum Járy Cimrmana).
Lighthouse of Jára Cimrman
Markers honor 865 war dead.
Sovjet Ereveld (Soviet Field of Honor)
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
The Codex Gigas (the Devil’s Bible) open to the portrait of the devil.
Codex Gigas: Who Drew the Devil in This Massive Medieval Bible?
about 3 hours ago
USDA and Washington State agriculture officials tagged this Asian giant hornet. Sept. 10, 2021.
What Ever Happened to the Murder Hornets?
1 day ago
The exterior of the Hall of Records.
Atlas Obscura Mailbag: Urban Exploration, Illegal Carvings, and Repeat Vacations
3 days ago
Biosphere 2 campus (2016)
Biosphere 2: How Volunteers Survived for 2 Years in an Airtight Habitat
4 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Florida Tampa Susan and John Sykes Ars Sonora
AO Edited

Susan and John Sykes Ars Sonora

The first musical instrument of its kind to be built in the United States—and the world’s tallest.

Tampa, Florida

Added By
Madeline McMahon
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Susan and John Sykes Ars Sonora.   mcm3302 / Atlas Obscura User
Susan and John Sykes Ars Sonora.   mcm3302 / Atlas Obscura User
  jlord7 / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Standing at the center of the University of Tampa campus is a uniquely sophisticated, 105-foot-tall musical instrument called the Ars Sonora.

The Paccard Bell Foundry, based in Annecy, France, invented the Ars Sonora concept in 1999, but their model in Tampa—constructed in 2022—uses first-of-its-kind software to play the bells like never before.

Musicians can play the 61 bells fast or slow, soft or loud, which is impossible with the traditional method, where bells are played through a cumbersome keyboard with wooden levers. This one connects to an electronic piano keyboard through underground wires to translate the notes from the keyboard to the bells in an instant. The Paccards’ method includes a long, precise crafting process to adjust the bells’ shapes and harmonics to achieve the best musical quality.

The Ars Sonora is located in the Sykes Plaza, next to the Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values on the campus. A flowing water fountain sits at its base, surrounded by a lawn and walkways in the shape of a lotus blossom.

Related Tags

Colleges Music Bells

Know Before You Go

The bells play daily at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Visitors can request a song by filling out this form.

Community Contributors

Added By

mcm3302

Edited By

jlord7

  • jlord7

Published

January 6, 2025

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.ut.edu/alumni/ut-journal/past-articles/ring-in-the-new
  • https://www.ut.edu/campus-life/student-services/sykes-chapel-and-center-for-faith-and-values/ars-sonora/the-paccard-story
  • https://www.ut.edu/arssonoradocumentary
  • https://www.ut.edu/campus-life/student-services/sykes-chapel-and-center-for-faith-and-values/ars-sonora/the-ars-sonora-concept
  • https://www.ut.edu/arssonora
Susan and John Sykes Ars Sonora
402 UT Spartan Ln
Tampa, Florida, 33606
United States
27.946562, -82.46604
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Gravity Research Foundation Monument

Tampa, Florida

miles away

Henry B. Plant Museum

Tampa, Florida

miles away

'America, America'

Tampa, Florida

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Tampa

Tampa

Florida

Places 27
Stories 3

Nearby Places

Gravity Research Foundation Monument

Tampa, Florida

miles away

Henry B. Plant Museum

Tampa, Florida

miles away

'America, America'

Tampa, Florida

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Tampa

Tampa

Florida

Places 27
Stories 3

Related Places

  • Mexico City, Mexico

    Torre Insignia Carillon

    The world's tallest carillon is located at the top of this skyscraper in Mexico City.

  • Boston, Massachusetts

    Bell Ringing Chamber at Old North Church

    The oldest working bell set in North America, the bells at Old North Church sat silent for their first four years in Massachusetts.

  • The Phono Museum features decades of different sound technology.

    Paris, France

    Phono Museum Paris

    A treasure trove of audio technology, from wax cylinders to juke boxes and record players.

  • The Barnard’s Inn building, home to Gresham College.

    London, England

    Gresham College

    England's "third oldest college" has not graduated a single student in over 400 years.

  • Dallas, Texas

    Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Grave

    The final resting place of a music legend.

  • Houston, Texas

    POST Houston

    A former post office turned venue, food hall, and retail center.

  • ‘Portrait of a Shout.’

    Kagoshima, Japan

    ‘Portrait of a Shout’

    A well-known Japanese musician’s all-night concert on this island is immortalized by an unusual work of art.

  • Order a flight of infused ya dong shots.

    Bangkok, Thailand

    Tep Bar

    Sidle up for this Chinatown watering hole for Thai moonshine accompanied by traditional live tunes.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.