The Palazzina Ducale della Casiglia is the Sassuolo headquarters of Confindustria Ceramica and Edi.cer. Spa. in the heart of the Ceramic District at Viale Monte Santo 40.
Assopiastrelle, now Confindustria Ceramica, moved to this prestigious location in 1992. The current building is the result of several renovations over the centuries. To date, the exact origins of the complex are unknown, but its initial construction can be attributed to Ercole Pio, feudal lord of the Este family and Lord of Sassuolo, in a period dating between 1555 and 1571. At that time, the Casiglia consisted of a walled garden, a hunting lodge and a service building. The Casiglia subsequently returned to the hands of the Este family, but it was only under Duke Francesco III d'Este that, starting in 1749, the complex underwent further transformations, which were completed in 1753. After several changes of ownership, Casiglia was purchased in 1886 by the "Pio Istituto delle Figlie di Gesù" of Modena (Pio Institute of the Daughters of Jesus), which carried out substantial alterations to adapt it for its new use as a holiday residence for schoolgirls. With this transformation, Casiglia took on its current form. Over the following decades, the Casiglia was abandoned by the Pio Institute of the Daughters of Jesus of Modena, eventually becoming a dilapidated and badly damaged building.
In the mid-1980s, the Association decided to purchase the complex and renovate it, turning it into its headquarters and restoring a building of great historical and architectural value to the city. The restoration project was entrusted to Gae Aulenti, as well as other highly qualified professionals who skilfully preserved the historical and architectural features of the building. Arranged over three floors, covering a total of 2,490 square metres, the building is horseshoe-shaped, with two asymmetrical side wings and porticoes.
[Gaetana "Gae" Emilia Aulenti (4 December 1927 – 31 October 2012) was an Italian architect and designer. Aulenti began her career in the early 1950s, establishing herself as one of the few prominent female architects in post-war Italy.]
Confindustria Ceramica's Rome offices are located at Via Alessandro Torlonia 15, in the Nomentano district, in a large early 20th-century building.
The historic Villa Torlonia is located in the immediate vicinity, its walls facing the façade, and the Trieste-Salario district, the Parioli district and Piazza di Porta Pia are within easy reach. The area is very elegant and well connected by rail (Tiburtina Station is nearby, as is Termini Station) and public transport (Repubblica Metro Station on Line A, Bologna Station on Line B and numerous bus routes).
