Palazzo del Merenda, Forlì former hospital, nowadays part of the university campus
Palazzo del Merenda is a large 18th century building originally designed as a hospital in central Forlì that now contains multiple cultural collections. Inside are a grand stone staircase with sculptures, large halls with paintings from the 1600s and 1700s, and various exhibition spaces across multiple floors.
The building was constructed in 1722 by Franciscan friar Giuseppe Merenda as a hospital and served the community for over 200 years. After 1922 it transformed into a cultural center and has housed libraries, galleries and museums ever since.
The palazzo has housed multiple cultural institutions since 1922 that document the city's heritage and daily life. The ethnographic museum displays reconstructions of 19th century homes from the Romagna region with period tools, furniture, and rural objects that show how people once lived.
The building is located at Corso della Repubblica 72 and can be reached by public transport, with bus line 1A departing from the station. Parking is available on nearby streets and the grounds are easily accessible on foot.
A grand stone staircase designed by architect Raimondo Compagnini in 1778 features sculptures representing Magnificence and Charity created by Francesco Andreoli. These works specifically commemorate the building's original purpose as a place of healing and compassionate care.
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