The San Pellegrino Terme Casino, inaugurated in 1907 and originally named Gran Kursaal, was conceived as a grand space for the elegant social life of the Belle Époque.
Gambling, concerts, shows, drinking the healing spring water, and spending afternoons reading and conversing all took place here. From the very beginning, it was the social heart of the spa town.
The building, designed by Mazzocchi and Squadrelli, is one of the most important examples of Liberty style in Europe: a monumental staircase leads to rooms decorated with polychrome stained glass windows, wood paneling, frescoes, spectacular chandeliers, and sculptural groups that celebrate myths and nature. The richness of the decoration, entrusted to selected masters and artisans, gives the palace a theatrical elegance that still captivates visitors today. Gambling was practiced only for a brief period, from 1907 to 1917, reserved for men registered in a private club. Women, when present, frequented the spaces dedicated to music, tasting, and reading. In the following years, the palace had various uses, but it maintained its iconic character.
After a long period of restoration and enhancement, the complex is now part of the QC Terme experience and is once again open to visitors through guided tours.
Entering the Casino today means embarking on a journey into the history of alpine hospitality and early 20th-century wellness culture, in one of the most admired buildings in the Brembana Valley.
