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Palazzo Salustri-Galli in Castelnuovo di Farfa: 18th-Century Frescoes and Italian Gardens in the Sabine Hills
Palazzo Salustri-Galli alone occupies a quarter of the historic centre of Castelnuovo di Farfa, in the province of Rieti. Located on the northern edge of the village, it is the point where the town ends and the countryside begins: olive groves stretching as far as the eye can see, the valley of the Farfa torrent, and the Sabine Mountains in the background.
From the Marquises Simonetti to the Salustri Galli
The history of the building is worth exploring in detail, as it is often oversimplified by local sources. The palace was originally the residence of the Marquises Simonetti, who for centuries administered the lands of Farfa Abbey. They merged several buildings, some dating from the 16th century, into a single stately home around the mid-18th century. Angelo Galli then purchased it in the mid-19th century, hence the double-barrelled name of the palazzo.
The frescoes and the “capricci” above the doors
The most important artistic intervention was carried out in the 18th century: the frescoes in the reception rooms depict views of the family’s palaces, portraits of aristocrats, carriages, but also ordinary people and passers-by captured with vivid spontaneity. Above the doors are the “capricci,” compositions of invented architecture and landscapes, a genre typical of the 18th century. Outside, an Italian-style garden remains intact.
