Villa Silvia, Neoclassical villa in Lizzano, Cesena, Italy.
Villa Silvia is a neoclassical residence in the hills of Cesena, featuring a symmetrical facade with French windows and original wrought-iron balconies from the 18th century. The building now houses a museum dedicated to mechanical musical instruments across seven thematic rooms, displaying Edison phonographs and hand-cranked pianos that street musicians once used.
The Pasolini-Zanelli family purchased the property in 1806 and transformed it into their summer home through marriage to Silvia Baroni Semitecolo in 1875. The National Museum of Mechanical Musical Instruments opened in 1913, displaying collections spanning from the 16th century within the restored rooms.
The villa takes its name from Silvia Baroni Semitecolo, who made it her summer home after marrying into the family in 1875. Visitors can see how the rooms now serve as a museum for mechanical musical instruments, bringing together machines that produced music across different centuries.
The museum is best visited in the early part of the day when crowds are smaller and you can explore the instruments at a leisurely pace. Comfortable shoes are helpful since the building spans multiple levels and the collection is spread across several rooms.
The bedroom of poet Giosuè Carducci has been kept exactly as it was in 1906, displaying his personal belongings and a decorated ceiling with mythological scenes. This preservation offers an intimate look into the life of one of Italy's most important writers of that era.
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