The foundation of the Society of Workers of Mutual Aid of the City of Cagliari dates back to 1855: it then had its first temporary headquarters in the district of Castello, in the council chamber of the old Civic Palace. After several temporary locations, the elegant Art Nouveau building that still houses the Sodality today was built in 1912.
It was then-president Carlo Concas who posed the problem of construction, and the City of Cagliari donated the area on which, in less than two years, the building rose. The drafting of the design and direction of the work was entrusted to Engineer Riccardo Simonetti, who selflessly executed the work. Severely damaged during World War II, especially in the decorative parts, it was perfectly repaired and has undergone careful restoration work several times over the years.
The Art Nouveau flavor of the building is recognizable in the front door and the grilles on the staircase leading to the second floor.
Various kinds of documents recalling its 169-year history can be observed in the Society’s showcases and display cases: historical documents, founders, the events that characterized the period of wars; also, various work tools used by artisans and workers of other times, and the Headquarters itself will be the subject of the exhibition.
