Dedicated to banker Stefano Siglienti, president of ABI and protagonist in 1953 of the transformation of ICAS into today’s Banco di Sardegna, the hall-which originally housed the Banco’s first Branch-is today its beating heart, a venue for events and cultural happenings. “Salone degli Sportelli”: this is how it was named by engineer Cipelli in the 1924 plans, which testify to the original decorative appearance, of which the wooden moldings made by Fratelli Clemente of Sassari remain today. Of the old branch, the original safe is preserved. Renovations over the past decades have changed the original appearance of the hall: the space is punctuated by two mighty pillars, from which rise round arches and lowered arches, giving the hall an elegant and welcoming atmosphere. The room will host the exhibition Maestri e Allievi, a dialogue between works from the Banco di Sardegna collection-paintings and sculptures by leading Sardinian artists of the 19th and 20th centuries-and those of the Sassari Liceo Artistico: from early directors such as Filippo Figari and Mauro Manca, to teachers such as Eugenio Tavolara, Stanis Dessy and Gavino Tilocca, to students who became masters outside the classroom such as Costantino Spada. Part of the exhibition will be devoted to the creations of today’s outstanding alumni, who have won awards in national competitions and are active in the design and execution of installations and public art works. Also valuable are the Bank’s coin collection, which, starting with the extremely rare “Grosso tornese” specimen, traces the numismatic and political history of Sardinia, and the selection of documents from the Historical Archives, which instead testifies to its economic and social evolution.
