Organs in Florence

[Martin Cooke]

My wife and I have just returned from a few days in Florence. I wonder if any forum members have any experience of the organs over there - hearing, playing etc? I had researched the Duomo organ a little and was looking forward to seeing a 5-manual organ, but as visitors to that edifice will know, unless you attend mass, or you go on a tour of the dome with its long climb, you can scarcely see the dome area and are kept from advancing up the nave of the cathedral at all. St Croce, I discovered after our visit, has a large 4-manual organ though the two rather small cases bely this,  and I couldn't see the console - (part of the church was roped and screened off for maintenance. No sign at either building of recitals etc. 

[innate]

I’ve been interested in hearing this instrument in the flesh http://www.willis-organs.com/florence_general.html but haven’t had the chance yet.

[Zimbelstern]

I’m sure Christopher Stembridge would know something and would be delighted to help:

http://www.christopherstembridge.org/