Palazzo Ducale
18th-century palace, now the seat of the Comune di Sassari, with the Stanze del Duca and an archaeological route in the cellars with remains of 16th-century houses.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Palazzo Ducale, in Piazza del Comune, was the most important civic residence in Sassari and is today the seat of the town hall. It was built from 1775 at the wish of Antonio Manca, Marquis of Mores and lord of Usini, immediately after his appointment as Duke of Asinara, and was completed in the early years of the 19th century, bringing together earlier noble palaces and ancient “tall houses” of the area. The duke died in 1805 without ever having lived there. The building has three floors, an architecture with a Piedmontese character, limestone in various shades, rococo decoration on the cornices of the top floor and a central balcony dating from 1908. After serving as the seat of the Prefecture, it has housed the municipal administration since 1878; the Comune bought it in 1900.
The palace is part of the Rete Thàmus, with two separate routes. The Stanze del Duca (Duke's Rooms), on the ground floor, recreate the atmosphere of the 19th century and display the treasures of the Manca family: marble statues representing the Sun, the Moon, the Star and the Comet, once in the citrus garden of the courtyard; Sassarese majolica; and personal objects such as antique pistols and grooming vessels, together with archaeological finds that document the history of the district before the palace.
In the basement, the Cantine del Duca (Duke's Cellars) allow visitors to see the foundations of the building. A walkway crosses five cellar spaces of 16th-century houses brought to light by excavations, with ancient cisterns, wells and drainage channels from Renaissance Sassari.
Highlights
- Stanze del Duca with the treasures of the Manca family
- Marble statues of the Sun, the Moon, the Star and the Comet
- Cantine del Duca with cisterns, wells and 16th-century rooms
- Entrance hall and inner courtyard open free of charge
- Combined ticket with other monuments of Sassari
Permanent exhibitions
- Stanze del Duca – Rooms on the ground floor recreating the 19th-century atmosphere, with the treasures of the Manca family and archaeological finds from the district.
- Cantine del Duca – Walkway through the cellar spaces of 16th-century houses, with cisterns, wells and drainage channels.
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €4 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3Students aged 6 to 25, groups of at least 20 people and school classes |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 6 · Free admission from 0 to 6 years. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with disabilities and one companion. |
| Combined ticket (Palazzo di Città, Palazzo Ducale, Cantine and Stanze del Duca, Fontana di Rosello, Barbacane) | €10Reduced €8 (students aged 6–25 and groups of at least 20 people), school classes €5; sold only at the Infopoint in Via Sebastiano Satta 13. |
Tickets for the Stanze and Cantine del Duca are bought at the ticket office of Palazzo Ducale. Free admission also for EU tourist guides and accompanying teachers. Prices are per person.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The Sassari tourism portal describes the site as accessible; the regional cultural portal reports facilitated physical access for visitors with specific needs.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By car
Paid parking
Paid on-street parking (blue lines) in Piazza Mazzotti and a paid multi-storey car park at the Mercato Civico.
The palace is in the historic centre of Sassari, on Piazza del Comune.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The Cantine del Duca are an underground space with limited room, so low, closed shoes are required. The regional cultural portal states that children under 12 may enter only with an adult. |
