Palazzo Laureati

Palazzo Laureati grew from a villa built around 1786 by Bartolomeo Bacher, bishop of Ripatransone, and enlarged after the Laureati family acquired it in 1807. The palace is associated with two notable episodes in Grottammare's history: the visit of Vittorio Emanuele II in 1860 and receptions for Franz Liszt in 1868.

Why it matters

In October 1860, after the Marche had separated from papal rule, King Vittorio Emanuele II stayed at Palazzo Laureati and received a delegation from Naples that formally offered the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies to the Savoy crown. The building also reflects the growth of Grottammare's Marina, where it was among the first villas.

What to notice

The palace's history is visible in the change from Bacher's villa to the enlarged residence of the Laureati family. Its place among the early villas of the Marina connects it to the development of Grottammare as a seaside town. The surrounding historic quarter retains other residences associated with the town's patrician families.

Context and history

Bacher was known for his interest in agronomy and the cultivation of oranges at Grottammare. He sold the villa to the Laureati in 1807; the family enlarged it into the palace associated with their name. Liszt spent several weeks in Grottammare in the summer of 1868, and the Laureati receptions formed part of the social setting of his stay. The 1860 royal visit remains the building's most direct connection to Italian unification.