SALIS PALACE
PALAZZO SALIS IN TIRANO IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT OF VALTELLINA
Palazzo Salis has remained through the centuries always owned by the Counts Salis (later Sertoli Salis) family. The basic structure consists of a late 1500s, façade flanked by two towers, with a central baroque portal built on a design by Giacomo Barozzi called "Il Vignola", the great Italian Mannerist Architect. From the entrance we pass through a cross-vaulted portico to enter the beautiful Italian-style inner garden, one of the most important gardens in Lombardy, and certainly a great example in Valtellina of a noble garden.
Inside the palace the museum circuit, with 10 decorated and frescoed rooms which have all been recently restored, ending with the so called "Saloncello", an important vaulted hall and meeting place for the political power of Valtellina in the 17th and 18th centuries. Within the circuit also the Baroque family church dedicated to Saint Charles Borromeo and the italian style garden, a hidden jewel.
All rooms of the museum overlook the ancient sixteenth century courtyard called "the rustic court" or "horses courtyard". The museum tour starts by walking up the main staircase and passing through the main Hall featuring a beautifully frescoed ceiling and baroque pictorial decorations all around, which have been attributed to a painter named Antonio Cucchi. The main Hall decorations have been restored in the 80ies of the last century, under the supervision of the Superintendence Environmental and Architectural Heritage. Palazzo Salis is one of the most important palaces in the province of Sondrio.
Palazzo Salis of Tirano has recently opened a museum circuit that allows visitors to enjoy some of the most beautiful halls and rooms of the prestigious family residence. Precious decorations, frescoes from the rich and partly unexplored iconographic apparatus, historic furnishings and relevant historical documents give to the visitor a significant insight on local history.
Included in your visits there's the precious italian style garden, a true hidden jewel. The italian style garden is reported already in ancient plans and one of these, dated 1813, can be seen in the first room of the museum showing very similar structure to the present one. Italian style gardens are very rare in the alpine area, a true hit. In the entire valley only 2 italian gardens exist, of which the one at Palazzo Salis represents the biggest and most relevant one. The italian style gardens emerged in the late fifteenth century, inspired by classical ideals of order and beauty, and intended for the pleasure of the view of the garden and the landscape beyond, for contemplation and relaxation.The typical feature of an italian garden is the symmetry underlined by strict lines of evergreen fances, mainly of box (buxus). At Palazzo Salis the box plants form 4 labyrinthic quadrants, with geometrical center. A professional team of gardeners takes care that the symmetry is restored year after year, for a perfect maintenance of this precious garden and its many roses and fruit trees . Worth to admire also the magnificent two centuries old Lebanon Cedar, protecting the Salis family through many generations.
| From April 1st to the end of October: | Monday to Saturday: 10:00 to 4.30 p.m. (last entry at 4 p.m.) |
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| From November 1st to end of March: | only for groups upon reservation |
| Groups may book on other days and times. The visit of palazzo Salis may be completed by a unique experience with wine tasting, buffet lunch or gala dinner in the finest frescoed rooms of the Palace. | |