After more than sixty years of silence, the Basilica of Santo Spirito has found its voice again.
On the morning of Thursday, April 23, at 11:30 a.m., the Tronci Organ and its decorative ensemble – choir loft and case – were returned to the community after a long and careful restoration. This was not merely the restitution of a work of art, but the return of a living presence, capable of restoring the deep connection between architecture, music, and spirituality.
The project, carried out under the supervision of the Superintendency and made possible thanks to the support of Friends of Florence, through the generous donation of Jim and Janet Dicke II, was presented in the presence of Father Giuseppe Pagano, Prior of the Basilica; Architect Antonella Ranaldi, Superintendent; Simonetta Brandolini d’Adda, President of Friends of Florence; together with the restorers Sandra Pucci, Alice Quaggiato, Chiara Mignani and the firm Chichi Organi with Luca, Pasquale, and Marco. Particularly meaningful was also the presence of Francesco Tronci, heir to the historic family of organ builders who created the instrument in 1824.
Alongside the Augustinian community and the institutions were those who made this project possible, in a moment that symbolically reconnected the thread of history.
A voice resonating once again within Brunelleschi’s space
“A dream come true,” said Father Giuseppe Pagano.
The return of the organ is not merely a technical or artistic event. It touches the very nature of Brunelleschi’s space, conceived not only to be seen, but also to be heard.
For decades, that silence had suspended part of the life of the Basilica. Today, that void is filled once more: music returns to inhabit the nave, to sustain prayer, and to give breath to the community.
The first notes: memory and emotion
The most awaited moment came when Maestro Gabriele Giacomelli placed his hands on the keyboard and the organ finally resounded again.
The first notes filled the space with unexpected strength, restoring the voice of the instrument through the Pastorale in G major by L. Bonini, rediscovered in the Basilica’s archives, followed by the “Consumazione” from the Stabat Mater by Gioachino Rossini, in the organ arrangement by Carlo Fumagalli.
Two performances that brought back to life a musical memory capable of bridging past and present.
A dialogue between art, history, and spirituality
The restoration not only recovered the instrument, but also revealed its deeper roots.
The choir loft, dating from 1551 to 1553, has regained its original elegance: the walnut wood, gilding, and refined carvings are once again visible, freed from later alterations.
The organ, built in 1824 by the Tronci family, stands as a true “miniature romantic orchestra”.
The restoration: bringing to light, restoring meaning
Beneath the surfaces, time had hidden much. The work of the restorers brought back the original finish of the choir loft, restoring balance and depth to the whole.
Operations of consolidation, reintegration, and recovery restored material integrity, but above all meaning.
This is a restoration that does not merely preserve: it restores, interprets, and returns.
A community rediscovering its voice
“Restoring this organ means giving a voice back to a place,” recalled Simonetta Brandolini d’Adda.
This is the deepest meaning of the project: a community recognizing itself once again in a sound, a presence, a living tradition.
The restoration is part of the project “Humanism in Santo Spirito”, aimed at enhancing the Basilica as a living place where art, faith, and culture continue to engage in dialogue.
After more than sixty years, Santo Spirito has found its voice again.
And with it, a part of its soul.
Upcoming events
The return of the organ to the community is accompanied by two events open to the public:
- April 24, 2026 – 7:00 p.m.
Concert by Maestro Gabriele Giacomelli: “A musical journey from the organists of Santo Spirito to Puccini”, featuring works by Rossini, Bellini, Verdi, Puccini, and unpublished 19th-century pieces; - April 26, 2026 – 10:30 a.m.
Holy Mass presided over by H.E. Mons. Gherardo Gambelli.
To learn more about the history and restoration of the organ and choir loft:
Read → “The restoration of the Tronci Organ and Choir Loft”
