Palazzo Giuccioli

Guiccioli Palace is a noble residence built starting in the 16th century by the Osio family, originally from Lombardy and renowned for their work as upholsterers and merchants. In 1803, the property was sold to Alessandro Guiccioli, a fervent Jacobin and a trusted associate of Napoleon Bonaparte, who moved there in 1818 with his young wife Teresa Gamba Ghiselli, his seven children, and a large household staff.
The palace is particularly famous for having hosted Lord Byron, the great English poet, revolutionary, and nonconformist, whose influence on Anglo-American literary culture, alongside that of Shakespeare, has been extraordinary. Byron lived at Guiccioli Palace from February 20, 1820, to October 29, 1821, driven by his overwhelming love for Countess Teresa, Alessandro’s wife, for whom he became a Cavalier Servente.
After extensive and meticulous restoration, Guiccioli Palace has been returned to the city in all its splendor and now serves as the centerpiece of an internationally significant museum hub. Within its walls are three distinct museums: the Museo Byron (lit. Byron Museum), dedicated to the life and works of the poet, narrated through objects and memorabilia preserved by Teresa; the Museo del Risorgimento (lit. Museum of the Italian Risorgimento), which is centered around the Risorgimental Collection of the Classense Library, enriched by donations from private citizens, the Mario Guerrini Collection, bequeathed to the Municipality of Ravenna in 2002, and the Risorgimental Collection of the Cassa di Risparmio di Ravenna Foundation; and the Museo delle Bambole (lit. Doll Museum), which houses the Graziella Gardini-Pasini Collection, a fascinating assortment of historical dolls.