Villa Salina

The history of this villa is closely linked to the figure of Marcello Malpighi and to the family of the Salina counts. Before the embellishments and enlargements made by the Knight Luigi Salina a century later, it was a rural house of modest dimensions, a modest country house in Ronco di Corticella.

When Malpighi died in 1694, the villa passed to the Simoni family, then to Count Seghizzi Gambalunga and to Count Marchese Marc'Antonio Hercolani, who, in turn, sold it in 1762 to Mr Giovanni Antonio Salina. The splendid tempera-painted ceiling in the loggia at the entrance on the ground floor can be dated just between 1660 and 1762, a work that was unknown until the refurbishing of the villa that was carried out by the Emilia-Romagna Region, now owner of the residence.

After the Salina family, the villa passed on to the Emilia-Romagna Region, which destined it to host conferences and studies. In recent times the Municipality of Castel Maggiore has rediscovered the place, managing to make it the venue for the CondiMenti Festival and other cultural initiatives since 2016, first of all by enhancing the beautiful park. From December 2019, by virtue of an agreement stipulated with the Emilia-Romagna Region, Villa Salina has passed under the direct management of the Municipality.