Palazzo Sanguinetti, Neoclassical palace in Bologna, Italy

Palazzo Sanguinetti, also known as Aldini-Sanguinetti, stands at Strada Maggiore 34 in Bologna. The palace is entered through a scenographic staircase that likely dates to the 16th-century rebuilding under Senator Ercole Riario. Its main rooms, the Sala delle Virtù and the Sala delle Feste, were created when a large 16th-century hall was divided and lowered by architect Giovan Battista Martinetti after 1796. Since 2004 the building has housed the Museo internazionale e biblioteca della musica.

The palace originated in the early 16th century under the Loiani family and was purchased by the Riario brothers in 1569, who restructured and unified the space. The building eventually became a repository for musical documents and research, opening to the public as a museum and library in 2004.

This building houses a museum dedicated to Italy's musical heritage through manuscripts, printed scores, and historical instruments on display. The collection reflects Bologna's historical importance as a center for music teaching and development.

The museum and library occupy the piano nobile of the palace at Strada Maggiore 34, reached by the scenographic staircase built under Ercole Riario. The music collections are consultation material for scholars, so access to the reading rooms is arranged separately from the exhibition route. Check opening days and booking requirements before setting out.

A 19th-century trompe-l'oeil fresco by artist Luigi Busatti adorns one of the courtyards, creating an illusion of depth with a painted landscape. This painted work remains visible to visitors today and exemplifies the decorative craftsmanship of that era.