Built in the 15th century, Casa Cavassa still conserves from the original Gothic building the outher windows of the second floor, with marquisate emblems and religious motto, and the two-light mullioned windows in the internal arcade, which were however rebuild in 1885 over the remains recovered under the plasterwork. From the mid 15th century it became the famous residence of Saluzzo branch of Cavassa's, a new noble family, native of Carmagnola , that quickly gained political and social ascendancy at the court of the Vicar General of the marquisate, a post that was also filled by his son Francesco from 1502.

The building transformed by the Cavassa family in the Po Renaissance style, features an "L" plan with the bodies joined by a spiral staircase and takes advantage of the sloping ground to extend over six floors, three of which underground towards the entrance, with arcades, loggias and portcoes. Painters, sculptors and architects influenced by the new artistic trends of Padua, Mantua and Ferrara worked on the renovations and decorations which provided a vivid testimony of the economic and cultural ascent of one of the most powerful families of the Saluzzo area. Francesco's inprisonment and death in 1528, due to political reasons, led to start of a rapid decline; the building belonged t the Cavassa family until 1700. The house was then divided into flats and also used as a school boarding house, which accelerated its strucural decline.

In 1883 Vittorio Emanuele Tapparelli D'Azeglio, a diplomat and collector, Massimo's nephew, bought the building and commissioned the engineer Melchiorre Pulciano and the painter Vittorio Avondo to undertake renovation. Azeglio wished to open a museum in order to highlight once again the glorious past of the marquisate. The restoration work was undertaken in accordance with the 18th century principle of completion according to style, in the same period in which the Medieval Borough of Valentino was being built in Turin. Therefore for the fitting of the chambres use was made of works of art dating back to the Cavassa era, which were acquired from antique markets, collectors and D'Azeglio's properties, as well as of furnishings specially commissioned to craft workshops. On D'Azeglio's death (1890), the municipal Authority inherited the building as a Civic Museum and opened it to the public the following year.

On the façade, decorated with imitation ashlar masonry in grisaille, opens out the portal (1518-1528), a work by Matteo Sanmicheli, which together with the cross-windows, reflects the Renaissance innovation that distinguished the restorations of the early 16th century. The Cavassa emblem, a CHUB (a freshwater fish that swims upstream), the motto " Droit quit qu'il soit " (interpreted as "forward at any cost" or as "justice no matter how") and the elaborate carved door all welcome the visitor into the internal arcade.

Three elegant two-light mullioned windows in late Gothic style open out onto the arcade. Over The wooden gallery, seven compartments represent the labours of Hercules in grisaille, a type of decoration common in Saluzzo in the early 16th century.

To the right of the entrance, the "Justice chamber" or "Face chamber" opens out, frescoed with Muses, Saints, Philosophers and grotesque subjects typical of the Mantuan-Ferrara culture of the late 15th century; landscape representations complete the decoration. To the left is the "Alliances chamber", where 15th century frescoes are displayed together with a curious wrought iron ewer and some furnishings in Gothic style. The adjoining "Chapel" features a curious wooden ceiling painted with figures of knights and ladies in 15th century costume alternating with the coat of arms and motto of the Cavassa family. The spacious "De Foix chamber" features the coast of arms of the families ennobled by the Marquis Ludovico I in 1460, and the altarpiece "Our Lady of Mercy" (by Hans Clemer - around 1499), elegantly inserted amongst the Gothic stalls coming from the chapel of the Marquises in Revello. Over the fireplace is painted the Marquises' motto "Noch-Noch" (more and more).

The halls of the first floor feature many frescoes, paintings and furniture dating back to the 16th century. Noteworthy are the triptych of the Adoration of the Magi by Jacobino Longo (1520) and the canvases depicting Carlo Emanuele I and Catherine of Austria (by Giovanni Carraca - around 1585), coming from Lagnasco Castle where the Savoy family stayed as guests.

Opening Hours:

OCTOBER-MARCH:

Tuesday-Wednesday (open on request) or only visit at 11 a.m. and at 3 p.m. - 10.00-13.00 a.m. / 02.00-05.00 p.m.

Thursday-Sunday 10.00-13.00 a.m. / 02.00-05.00 p.m. (the last entry at 12.30 a.m. and at 04.15 p.m.)

APRIL-SEPTEMBER

Tuesday-Wednesday (open on request) 10.00-13.00 a.m. / 02.00-06.00 p.m. or only visit at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Thursday-Sunday 10.00-13.00 a.m. / 02.00-06.00 p.m. (the last entry at 12.30 a.m. and at 05.15 p.m.).

Closed on Monday, 25 December, 1 January, 1 May, 1 November.

Entrance Ticket :

€ 4,50 Full

€ 2,00 Reduced
(under 18, over 60, +Eventi, FAI, Touring Club italiano)

€ 5,00 Museum and Civic Tower

€ 8,00 Family - Museum

€ 10,00 Family -Museum and Civic Tower

Free: schools Saluzzo, students in matters of art and architectural, ICOM member, disables, Abbonamento Musei Torino-Piemonte