Palazzo Ducale

In the heart of Guastalla, the Ducal Palace stands out as a symbol of the city and a testament to its noble history. The "new" residence of the Torello counts, it became the seat of the Gonzaga court in 1539, transforming into a true center of power and culture.

The building, initially designed by Francesco Capriani, known as il Volterra, develops around a square porticoed courtyard, while the architect Tommaso Filippi completed the works in 1570, enriching it with an Italian-style garden, the Gallery of Marbles, and refined decorations entrusted to Bernardino Campi.

Over time, the Ducal Palace hosted great artists and poets: among them Tasso, Guarini, Guercino, and the Campi family themselves, making Guastalla a cultural center of prestige.

Over the centuries, numerous alterations and nineteenth-century consolidation works modified the original appearance of the building, adapting it to different uses.

In 1908, it became a private residence for the Mossina family before returning to public ownership.

Today, after careful structural and post-earthquake restorations, the Ducal Palace welcomes visitors with exhibition spaces on the first floor for temporary exhibitions and the City Museum of Guastalla, created to gather testimonies of the city's rich historical, cultural, and artistic journey.

On the ground floor, you can find the Atelier of the Ducal Palace, the Tourist Information Office, the Public Relations Office, and private services.

A visit to the Palace offers a journey through art, history, and architecture, immersing the public in the life and culture of the Gonzaga court.