Palazzo Canevari

The building was ordered by Quintino Sella at the end of the 19th century to host the Regio Ufficio Geologico (Royal Geological Office) and the relative Museo Agrario-Geologico (Agricultural-Geological Museum), and was built between 1873 and 1881 to a design by engineer Raffaele Canevari.

Using innovative technologies, engineer Canevari reused the 17th-century wall structures and created exhibition spaces consisting of rooms supported by cast-iron pillars, dedicated to housing all the collections contained in urns, showcases and specially built shelving, and a splendid gallery surmounting a vast consultation room.

The inauguration of the Palace (3 May 1885), considered one of the first examples of "Art Nouveau" in public buildings, was an event of great national renown at which King Umberto I himself took part.

The building housed the Geological Institute and museum collections until 1995, when it was closed.