The revival of Palazzo Saladini Pilastri in Ascoli, funded by the PNRR: a neoclassical gem with an ethical restaurant attached

During the opening ceremony, the complex’s historic garden was named after Pope Nicholas IV. “It is a magical place where the people of Ascoli can enjoy the silence, read a book, listen to music and recharge their batteries right in the heart of the historic centre” explained Mayor Fioravanti, adding that it had been decided to present the building ‘in its raw state to showcase the cultural, artistic and historical value of the restored frescoes, as well as the restoration of the fountain, the aedicule and the coffee house’.

At the press presentation of the work, Professor Stefano Papetti, director of the Civic Museums of Ascoli Piceno, emphasised the great significance of the cultural heritage brought to light thanks to the restoration work. The project has, in fact, made it possible to recover important historical and artistic artefacts. “This project has brought together a high level of technical expertise, extraordinary operational capability and the determination to complete the work within a very short timeframe,” observed Papetti.

Papetti highlighted the significance of the finds uncovered during the excavation work. ‘Among these,’ he added, ‘the large underground travertine wash houses stand out – which are now open to the public – having been used first by the Benedictine nuns and then by the Saladini Pilastri family, as well as decorations that had long remained hidden, such as the large hall frescoed with scenes from the life of Saint Egidio. The archaeological surveys and restoration work have also revealed precious 13th- and 15th-century frescoes, alongside 16th-century traces, bearing witness to over five hundred years of historical stratification.”

The professor went on to describe the church within the complex as ‘of exceptional beauty and, together with the Church of the Carmine, the only entirely Baroque church in the city’. Designed and built between the 17th and 18th centuries, the building houses the striking ceiling paintings by Ludovico Trasi and the high altar sculpted by Lazzaro Giosaffatti. ‘These are leading figures in Baroque painting and sculpture in Ascoli Piceno. A restoration of the highest calibre,’ he concluded, ‘which combines scientific rigour, cultural identity and renewed accessibility for the community’.

The building was constructed in the 16th century on a site previously occupied by a Benedictine nunnery and stretches for approximately 119 metres along Corso Mazzini. The building features an imposing travertine façade in the neoclassical style and, to the north, overlooks an Italian-style garden covering almost 9,000 square metres, which also houses a private hexagonal chapel and a partially underground washhouse. The complex also includes a cloister, stables, storehouses and service rooms.

The Benedictine monastery remained in use until the Napoleonic era and was purchased in 1820 by Count Ludovico Saladini Pilastri. In 1848, work began on a major renovation project entrusted to the Modena-based architect Luigi Poletti, a leading figure of the Neoclassical movement. The last member of the noble family that owned the property, Count Saladino Saladini Pilastri, transferred the building to the Municipality of Ascoli in 2022.