Palazzo Silva, Domodossola

Palazzo Silva is a Renaissance palace featuring distinctive cross-shaped marble windows and a spiral granite staircase that connects all floors. The collections are arranged across three levels organized around this central staircase, showcasing furnishings and objects from different periods.

The palace originated in the late 14th century when Antoniolo transformed a house-tower into a five-story structure. Giovanni Antonio della Silva later added further sections, expanding the building and shaping its current form.

The museum displays period rooms spanning from the Middle Ages to the 18th century, showing how people lived and dressed across different eras. Traditional clothing from the Ossola Valleys communities is shown in these reconstructed spaces.

The museum operates Thursday through Sunday during the summer season, with access to collections spread across three levels. The circular arrangement around the central staircase makes exploring the rooms straightforward and easy to navigate.

The centerpiece of the building is a 14th-century spiral staircase carved from local Serizzo granite that rises from the basement to the top of the palace. This staircase showcases the stonemasonry skill of that era and remains one of the most striking architectural elements visitors encounter.

Location: Domodossola

Inception: 1882

Official opening: 1882

Architectural style: Renaissance architecture

Website: https://amossola.it/musei_ossola/it/museo/civico-museo-palazzo-silva

GPS coordinates: 46.11623,8.29087

Latest update: December 14, 2025 16:45