The “Galleria d’Arte Contemporanea Luigi Spazzapan”, Gallery of Contemporary Arts,   was inaugurated on January 15th 1977, in the historic stately mansion Torriani, as a consequence and following to a fervent period of art exhibitions curated by Bruno Patuna, first displayed at the Enoteca Serenissima, in the civic hall Bergamas and also at the Dante Alighieri School.
Patuna, as an art critic, after having lived for a long time in Rome, returned to Gradisca in 1965 and here founded the Serenissima Art Gallery in 1966, in the premises of the Enoteca Regionale, erected in the 15^th century. The opening exhibition was about the graphics by Carlo Carrà, and thenceforth begins a long and inspired story.
In 1970 Giuseppe Marchiori organized and curated the first overall exhibition of the works by Luigi Spazzapan. The most significant masterpieces displayed in that occasion came from the private collection belonging to his good friend Eugenio Giletti, who had offered to the artist a significant support during the early, hard and challenging years in Piedmont.
The success of the exhibition turned out  so resounding that, as a consequence, it was decided to settle down a permanent exhibition of the artist’s paintings in the halls of Palazzo Torriani, built during the 17^th century and recently restored. In the occasion, Giletti offered the availability of 87 paintings from his private collection.  So, in 1977 a ten years long experience turned into an ongoing reality, an extensive cultural project.
This venture definitely records Spazzapan among the contemporary Friuli Venezia Giulia masters of art, and actively contributes to create an archive of the artists setting the tight bond that now links Friuli to Venezia Giulia.
In 2010 a significant restoration of the exposition halls was carried out, and the Gallery could undertake a managing system suitable to consolidate the synergy of three public bodies: the Province of Gorizia, the Municipality of Gradisca d’Isonzo and the Cassa di Risparmio di Gorizia Foundation. Furthermore an important support came from a scientific committee thus enhancing the success of an organization that combines in perfect balance research with innovation.

Site of the Museum