Built in 1870 as a place for recreation and refreshments close to the beach, the building became a seaside resort in 1873, consisting of a wooden structure and featuring a jetty extending out into the sea. It was the first building of its kind to appear in the town, created through a public initiative and initially managed by the local council itself. It therefore stands as a key testament not only to the town’s history as a tourist destination, but also to its social, cultural and economic history.
After two world wars and various ups and downs, in 1952 the building was completely refurbished to create a large dance hall, the Kursaal, which for around a quarter of a century was one of the most fashionable dance halls on the Adriatic coast, a fashionable meeting place and a stage for the biggest names in show business and pop music. One of the events most firmly etched in the collective memory is the concert given there by Lucio Battisti in the summer of 1970.
Once the era of the dance hall had come to an end, the various wings of the building took on different functions. The south-facing wing, which now houses the Museum of Contemporary Illustration, became home to the Tiffany, a popular nightclub between the 1970s and 1990s. The northern section was converted into a venue for conferences, exhibitions and theatre performances, whilst the upper floor was, until recently, a nightclub, before being taken over by a sophisticated restaurant.
Given its deliberately retro appearance, the building is more in keeping with the villas built in Grottammare between the 19th and 20th centuries, which are so rich in references to the styles of the Belle Époque and the 1920s (Historicism, Eclecticism, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, sometimes rendered in a whimsical ‘seaside’ style), than with other nearby buildings from the 1950s, such as the tennis club (which one might describe as having a ‘Mid-century modern’ look). Today, Palazzo Kursaal is a multi-purpose venue which, in keeping with its tradition, offers a wealth of opportunities for leisure and culture.