Bologna, August 8, 2026 – Italy today bows to the Great Master. And it does so through a small moved crowd, gathered under two curves of a small street in Pavana (Pistoia). On the coffin a flower arrangement and a photo collage, a book placed there discreetly. In the front row Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, archbishop of Bologna and president of the CEI, sits next to Guccini’s wife, Raffaella, a few chairs away is the singer-songwriter’s daughter, Teresa.
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A small moved crowd
In the small courtyard of the house in Pavana, above the door the icon of the Madonnina with the child, the windows are all open, the place chosen by Francesco Guccini’s family for a very private last farewell (started around 9), memories alternate. In turn, they stand up and stand next to the coffin: they speak, one after the other, to the small moved crowd, discreet, profound. In turn, they draw smiles, applause, even some laughter. They tell anecdotes, they quote songs, they remember who Guccini was, his life, the love he gave. And that today gathers all its fruits, among the immense affection and tears of the closest friends and relatives.
Daughter Teresa: “The greatest gift you gave me is knowing where to look”
The daughter stands up, reads – “sorry if I read,” she says, holding two slightly crumpled sheets –. “I wasn’t able to ask you all those questions – says Teresa –. The greatest gift you gave me is knowing where to look. Or maybe to ask myself those questions, without necessarily having an answer. I was proud of that rare attention I sometimes managed to steal from you.” A flood of memories, from the “pantheistic vision of spirituality you were able to transmit to me” to the simple “daily sandwich at bar Roberta, with mortadella.” And at the end: “Safe journey, dad.”
Many curious onlookers and passersby lean to look down. There are even those who spent a sleepless night, driving, to come here, coming up from Southern Italy, to participate in the last farewell to the singer-songwriter.
Zuppi’s speech and prayer
Then the speech by Zuppi, who also offers a prayer, standing next to the coffin. And finally a prayer by Zuppi. Everyone stands up. Wife Raffaella finally bursts into tears, and Zuppi goes to embrace her. Then, together, the two stop by the coffin to look at the collage of memories, small photos put together in a frame.
“Thank you Francesco”
At the exit of the coffin, which is carried away, a spontaneous shout: “Thank you Francesco”. And a spontaneous applause breaks out from the people outside, who follow discreetly, at a distance. Then the coffin leaves, towards the crematorium of Bologna
