The Palazzina Azzurra in San Benedetto del Tronto is a building of great historical and cultural importance. Built in the 1930s, it was initially the headquarters of the Tourist Board and later one of the most popular dance clubs on the Adriatic coast during the 1960s and 1970s.
After careful restoration that returned the building to its original shape and colors, the Palazzina Azzurra is now a prestigious cultural center.
Undoubtedly conceived in a context aimed at beautifying a booming city and for the purpose of welcoming tourists, it was born with the definition of “pavilion.” The history of the following decades tells us that it was instead a symbolic representation not only of the explosion of the city’s tourist phenomenon, but also became a metaphor for the “dolce vita” in the provinces, the pleasure of living together prosperous days, the glittering evenings with the great stars of show business.
In the design phase, Eng. Onorati – visionary designer of this and other structures that have characterized and embellished the city – sensing the tourist-recreational potential of this “pavilion,” asked and obtained permission to modify it with the addition of a dance and skating floor with stalls.
The possibility of opening a cafeteria, elevation with terracing, and rounded panoramic windows were also granted.
On September 1, 1934, in the presence of the major municipal and provincial authorities, the inauguration of the “pavilion” took place, which, due to its light blue color scheme, assumed the name “Palazzina Azzurra,” whose main facade was illuminated by a parabolic mirror projector.
In the unmistakable setting of the “conchiglia,” among the many memories of mondan evenings and live music, the image of Eros Sciorilli’s orchestra still remains vivid today.
The musician, a native of Busto Arsizio, entered the hearts of many San Benedetto residents for having given the city many unforgettable evenings and a song, titled precisely “La Palazzina Azzurra,” that remains one of the soundtracks of the magical summers of the Riviera of the Palms in the golden age.
After thirty years of events and live music, La Palazzina Azzurra evolved with the times in the late 1960s, transforming into an open-air discotheque under the name “River Club Palazzina Azzurra.”
After a period of mixed fortunes, since the 1990s – following a thorough restoration and rehabilitation of the garden – the Palazzina now hosts exhibitions, conferences and various cultural events, and is surrounded by a public park full of plants and flowers. Located on Viale Buozzi, it represents a symbol of local tourism, combining history and modernity in a striking setting.
