Sassari, “D. A. Azuni” Classical High School

The building is located in the historic center of the city.
The building has long and troubled construction events, which began as early as 1910 with an unapproved project and replaced only in 1929 by the one finally built and finished in 1933 on a design by the engineer Giuseppe Caporioni with the intervention, for the façade, by the architect Augusto Valente.
The vast construction is highlighted by the long front vertically marked by pilasters with two side vancords, connected by a central block on three levels, preceded by a double staircase parallel to the façade.
A high volcanite plinth detaches the ground floor from the elevation of the building, which still uses volcanic stone in the frames, central windows and three-light windows, with results based on classical principles of order and symmetry.
Inside, bright and wide corridors serve the various floors connected by large stairs with wrought iron railings, which lead to classrooms, administrative offices and common and representative areas.
In 1933, the painter Mario Delitala, in charge of painting the Aula Magna, created subjects inspired by the classical approach of the institute (“Heracles and Chiron, the Giants”) with a traditional figurative language.

History of studies
A review of studies can be found in the bibliography relating to the fact sheet in the volume of the “History of Art in Sardinia” on nineteenth-century architecture (2001).

Bibliography
E. Cenami-P. Simonetti, “Architecture and City”, in Sassari between Liberty and Déco, Cinisello Balsamo, Amilcare Pizzi, 1987, p. 42;
M.L. Frongia, Mario Delitala, Nuoro, Ilisso, 1999, pp. 130-135; G. Altea-M. Magnani, Painting and Sculpture from 1930 to 1960, series “History of Art in Sardinia”, Nuoro, Ilisso, 2000, p. 32;
F. Masala, Architecture from the Unification of Italy to the end of the 20th century. Nuoro, Ilisso, 2001, sheet 66.