Spada Collection of Ancient Musical Instruments

In Lecce, one can admire a fascinating collection dedicated to music, enriched by educational and outreach activities.\n\nThe collection, located in the splendid setting of the historic Palazzo Prete, includes ancient musical instruments, precious handwritten scores, paintings, and other artistic artifacts on musical themes. The instruments are divided into 9 contexts of use: liturgical-ritual music, band music, classical music, children's music, keyboard music, string music, world music, folk music, and mechanical music.\n\nThe “father” of the collection is Francesco Spada, a hematologist and passionate antiquarian and music lover who, by searching through markets and antique shops, has acquired the valuable materials over time.\n\nIn approximately 40 years, Dr. Spada has collected over 850 objects, documenting and cataloging them carefully through studies, photographs, and restorations. A specialized library is also available to users, consultable in person or via email, and includes a small archive of musical works.