Curiosità Romane!

Not many people know that the Basilica of San Giovanni dei Fiorentini, the then national church of the Florentines, known for Il Confetto (its confetti-shaped dome) hosts a splendid organ built by Filippo Testa in 1680 and restored in 1995 by the firm Bathèlèmy-Formentelli. This very organ was famous in its time for being very much appreciated by organists, and especially by Henry Purcell himself who considered it to be the best organ in Rome.

This is a recording from the 1680 organ made by Andrea Coen, with music by Alessandro Scarlatti: