National symbols of Wales | Wales.com

From ice cream to opera, there are many famous Italian inventions that have been warmly welcomed into Welsh culture, but it’s one of the country’s lesser-known imports that has grown to become an icon of Wales. The triple harp, so-called because it has three rows of strings rather than one, was created in Italy in the early 17th century, but, upon arrival in the UK, proved so popular with Welsh musicians it quickly became known as 'the Welsh Harp'.

In the following centuries, interest in the instrument waned across Europe in favour of modern alternatives, but in Wales the triple harp continued to be played and produced, thanks, in part, to its promotion in eisteddfodau festivals. How does it sound, you ask? In a word: bellissimo.

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