Palazzo Prosperi Sacrati in Ferrara reopens after 30 years, but only for one day

After 30 years of closure and three years of restoration, Palazzo Prosperi Sacrati in Ferrara reopens to the public on June 17, 2026, at 7 PM, but only for a single day. The Renaissance palace, located on Corso Ercole I d'Este opposite Palazzo dei Diamanti, is a key symbol of the city's Addizione Erculea urban expansion. The restoration cost €7 million. The building was originally constructed for Francesco da Castello, the personal physician of Duke Ercole I d'Este, with work completed between 1513 and 1514. Over centuries, it belonged to noble families including Da Castello, Giraldi, Sacrati, and Prosperi, before passing to the state and then to the Municipality of Ferrara in 1997. The palace suffered damage from WWII bombings in 1944 and later modifications. It is famous for its Venetian-style portal and was featured in Michelangelo Antonioni's film "Al di là delle nuvole" (1995), co-directed with Wim Wenders. Mayor Alan Fabbri stated the reopening honors a promise to restore the city's cultural heritage. The municipality has launched a public tender for the concession of part of the complex, with a deadline of June 29, 2026. The spaces include an exhibition area on the ground floor, offices on the first floor, and a large hall for events on the second floor, aiming to create a new cultural hub.