Santo Spirito, Baroque church in Pistoia, Italy
Santo Spirito is a baroque church in Pistoia featuring a rough stone facade and a single-nave interior layout. The space is defined by four lateral chapels that lead toward a domed apse at the far end.
Cardinal Giulio Rospigliosi, who later became Pope Clement IX, commissioned the church in 1647 under the direction of architect Tommaso Ramignani. Extensive restoration work between 1965 and 1988 addressed structural issues and preserved the building for the future.
The main altar displays a large painting by Pietro da Cortona showing Christ appearing before Saint Ignatius, framed by green marble columns that once came from Villa Giulia in Rome.
Visitors should allow time to explore the interior details and various chapels, as the light from the windows highlights architectural features in different ways throughout the day. Morning or early afternoon visits offer the best natural lighting to appreciate the design and decoration.
The church houses a notable organ from 1664 built by Guglielmo Hermans that combines Nordic craftsmanship with Italian organ-building methods. This instrument reflects how different regional traditions came together in one exceptional work during that period.
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