The palace destined to host the new ethnographic museum of Udine, now in the course of being set up, is know by the name of its last owner, Sante Giacomelli, who inhabited it from 1900. A descendent of a family traditionally tied to the textile sector, Giacomelli also held some prestigious public offices.

In 2010, the palace will welcome a new city museum space dedicated to the expressions and forms of traditional culture, with a route laid out over three floors and halls set up for temporary initiatives.

The “Gaetano Perusini” and “Luigi and Andreina Ciceri” collections, which integrate “historic” sectors of the civic collections, constitute a fundamental part of the set up.

The first is interested in the uses and typologies of traditional Friulian clothing. The second tackles a sacred theme, with wooden sculptures and objects of popular worship, also tackles furniture, wrought irons, ceramics, trade, entertainment, and emigration.