International Museum and Library of Music

The International Museum and Library of Music in Bologna, located in the historic Palazzo Sanguinetti, is an extraordinary institution dedicated to the preservation and promotion of musical heritage. Inaugurated in 2004, the museum is located at Strada Maggiore 34, in a charming and historic building dating back to the 16th century. This splendid building has hosted illustrious figures and has witnessed centuries of history and culture passing through its halls. The museum offers an exhibition path divided into different rooms, each telling a different aspect of the history of music and its protagonists. The visit begins in the room called Boschereccia, adorned with lush decorations, which introduces visitors to a journey into the musical universe. Among the first works on display are portraits and manuscripts that tell the life and work of key figures such as Father Giambattista Martini, whose legacy was fundamental to the birth of the museum itself. Father Martini, one of the greatest musical theorists of the 18th century, was also a great collector of books and musical manuscripts. His collections, kept in the museum, include rare theoretical treatises, scores, and autograph letters from composers such as Mozart, Gluck, and Bach. These documents not only illustrate the evolution of music theory but also offer a glimpse into the intellectual and personal relationships among the great musicians of the time. Room 4, dedicated to the Idea of Music, displays important musical treatises from the 15th to the 17th centuries, accompanied by portraits of the authors and some musical instruments of great historical and artistic value. Among these, the Clavemusicum Omnitonum by Vito Trasuntino stands out, a rare example of a keyboard instrument with 31 keys per octave, made in Venice in 1606. This instrument is unique in the panorama of ancient instruments and testifies to the ingenuity and innovation of the craftsmen of the time. The Arts room, dedicated to music books and instruments from the 16th and 17th centuries, presents extremely rare musical texts and an extraordinary collection of instruments. Among the most fascinating pieces are lutes, hurdy-gurdies, serpent horns, and a series of horns and cornets, each with a unique story to tell. The arrangement of the instruments and texts inside modern circular display cases allows for a 360-degree view, enhancing both the aesthetic and functional aspects of the objects on display. Italian opera of the 18th century takes center stage in the room dedicated to Carlo Broschi, known as Farinelli, the famous castrato singer. Farinelli’s portrait, painted by Corrado Giaquinto, dominates the room along with portraits of other castrati and composers of the time, such as Antonio Vivaldi and Domenico Cimarosa. The next room is dedicated to the 19th century and Gioachino Rossini, one of the greatest Italian composers, whose name is closely linked to the city of Bologna. Here you can admire portraits, busts, opera librettos, and the autograph score of The Barber of Seville, as well as personal items such as Rossini’s dressing gown and grand piano, made by Camille Pleyel in 1844. The museum path continues with the room dedicated to music books and instruments from the 18th and 19th centuries, where you can find violas d’amore, traverso flutes, clarinets, and scores by composers such as Torelli, Vivaldi, and Bertoni. Finally, room 9 pays tribute to two important figures in Bolognese and Italian musical culture: Giuseppe Martucci and Ottorino Respighi. Here, portraits, photographs, and a selection of works from the Respighi collection, donated to the museum by the widow Elsa on the 25th anniversary of the composer’s death, are on display.