The restoration of the historic organ in Corniglia: A journey into the history of the Cinque Terre

We visited Corniglia, at the Church of San Pietro, to meet Alberto Codeglia and Matteo Pasqualini, who shared with us the extraordinary story of the restoration of the village’s historic organ.

The project: “Giving a face to the Cinque Terre”

This interview is part of our project “Giving a Face to the Cinque Terre,” aimed at bringing humanity and authentic stories back to a region that is often only associated with mass tourism.

The long restoration of the church of San Pietro

Alberto told us about how the church has been the center of a long restoration effort, starting with the chandeliers in 2001, followed by the restoration of the altarpiece of Saint Peter and the Madonna del Rosario from 1641. The latter was restored in 2017 with the support of the Compagnia di San Paolo.

In 2022, the focus shifted to the historic organ, built in 1917 by Achille Baldi in Turin and brought to Corniglia during the First World War. “It’s a story within a story,” says Alberto Codeglia, head of the Parish Council.

A historic organ to restore

Disassembled piece by piece — with 866 pipes and 3,000 components — the organ was restored by the Fratelli Mari in Lumarzo (Genoa) and was returned to the church in May 2024.

“We were fortunate to work with the Fratelli Mari, who respected the originality of the instrument,” explains Alberto. “It was a complex challenge, but thanks to the 8×1000 funding from the CEI, and contributions from the Cinque Terre National Park and the Municipality of Vernazza, we raised the €66,000 needed.”

Inauguration and Corniglia Organ Festival

The organ was inaugurated on June 20, 2024, with a memorable concert, attended by both locals and visitors. This was followed by the birth of the Corniglia Organ Festival, aimed at giving new life to this extraordinary instrument.

A unique organ with an exceptional sound

As Matteo Pasqualini explained, this organ is one of the few in Italy that still retains a pneumatic tubular action made of cardboard, a unique detail that showcases the ingenuity and creativity of the time. Not only a piece of history, but also an instrument that continues to produce exceptional sound, bringing music and culture to the community. As organist Matteo Pasqualini shares, “It’s a little gem, with a sound quality few instruments can boast. The special feature? Its cardboard pipes, a solution adopted during the war when lead was needed for ammunition.”

Discovering the stories of the Cinque Terre

This visit to Corniglia showed us that every corner of the Cinque Terre has incredible stories to tell. If you have a story, place, or special project you’d like to share, please write to us at informazioni@cinqueterre.it.

We’d be happy to give voice to your story.