Report on the inauguration of the ancient organ of San Pietro di Roffeno. In the green heart of the Bologna Apennines, in the tiny hamlet of Cereglio (Vergato), last week the Romanesque parish church of San Pietro di Roffeno came alive again with music and community. On July 27, 2025, in front of hundreds of faithful and enthusiasts, I attended the blessing ceremony and concert that marked the revival of a 19th-century organ attributed to the Bolognese master Giuseppe Guermandi: a masterpiece silent for eighty years after damage sustained during the Nazi occupation of 1944. ([Patrimonio Culturale Emilia-Romagna][1])
A collaborative restoration costing 62 thousand euros
The restoration project – entrusted to the company Fratelli Bigi and supervised by the Superintendency – cost over 62,000.00 euros, raised thanks to the perseverance of the Association Friends of the Ancient Parish – President Giovanna Borgia – and a mosaic of patrons: CEI, Fondazione Carisbo, Fondazione Del Monte, Regione Emilia-Romagna, EmilBanca, Illumia and, above all, Confabitare, the association of property owners, led by national president Alberto Zanni. ([Vergato News 24][2], [notiziefabbriani.blogspot.com][3], [Patrimonio Culturale Emilia-Romagna][1])
«An organ silent for eighty years now speaks again. It is the symbol of an Italy that knows how to network to enhance its heritage» – Alberto Zanni ([Vergato News 24][2])
The humanity of a Cardinal among his people
Enhancing the liturgy was the presence of Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna, who blessed the instrument and attendees with words of rare simplicity: «Deep roots are the truest: this fruit born of shared work is a precious gift for the entire community» ([Vergato News 24][2])
The Prefect of Bologna Enrico Ricci emphasized the “identity” value of the intervention, while Mayor Giuseppe Argentieri spoke of a «point of arrival that becomes a new beginning» for the Apennines. ([Vergato News 24][2])
The rediscovered sound
After the rite, the Baroque trumpets of the Conservatory “G. Frescobaldi” of Ferrara and organists Wladimir Matesic and Francesco Zagnoni interwove pieces by Charpentier, Händel, Benoist, Pachelbel and Bach, restoring to the Romanesque nave the “voice” missing since the post-war years. ([appenninobolognese.cittametropolitana.bo.it][4], [Vergato News 24][2])
Why this story speaks to everyone
The restoration of the Roffeno organ is a snapshot of a “functioning Italy”:
- Public-private synergy – from regional allocations to small local donors.
- Civic participation – a volunteer association that identifies a problem and turns it into an opportunity. Care for the territory – a cultural asset returned not only to liturgy, but to the cultural life of the Apennines, with a concert calendar already planned.
In a country often depicted through inefficiencies and delays, the echo of these 390 newly restored pipes reminds us that enthusiasm and collaboration can still produce beauty.
“When the mountain is alive, the whole region is alive” – Card. Zuppi
A powerful message, now amplified by the clear notes of the ancient organ: music, like good politics and solidarity, can still unite different voices into a single harmonious chord.
WEB Sources
[1]: https://patrimonioculturale.regione.emilia-romagna.it/novita/notizie/2025/lorgano-antico-torna-a-suonare “The ancient organ plays again – Cultural heritage”
[2]: https://vergatonews24.it/2025/07/31/la-pieve-di-roffeno-ritrova-la-sua-voce-il-cardinale-zuppi-al-concerto-per-celebrare-il-restauro-dellantico-organo/ “The Parish of Roffeno regains its voice: Cardinal Zuppi at the concert to celebrate the restoration of the ancient organ | Vergato News 24”
[3]: https://notiziefabbriani.blogspot.com/2025/07/roffeno-inaugurazione-del-restaurato.html “News from the Reno and Setta valleys: Roffeno – Inauguration of the restored ancient organ at the Parish of San Pietro”
[4]: https://appenninobolognese.cittametropolitana.bo.it/it/eventi/musica-e-danza/antico-organo-restaurato-inaugurazione-e-concerto-alla-pieve-di-san-pietro-di-roffeno “Restored ancient organ: inauguration and concert at the Parish – Bologna Apennines”
