The Sanvitale family was one of the most ancient
noble families in the city and represent the highest
expression of Parma's glorious nobility for an
entire millennium. The identity of the remotest
ancestors of the Sanvitale counts is extremely
doubtful: according to an ancient manuscript one of
the earliest ancestors was a legendary prince,
Berthold of Baden, whose coat of arms does
somewhat resemble that of the Sanvitale family.
In the 15th century two branches of the family started:
the branch of the counts of Fontanellato and that of the
counts of Sala. The descendants of the Sala branch
were the victims of a plot in 1602, that wiped out that
entire branch of the family. At the same time, the counts of
Fontanellato were also under siege but managed to
survive the catastrophe and the family continued with Count Alessandro.

The lineage of the Sanvitale family, after feudal times and after
surviving the tragic period of Farnese rule, remained strong and
enjoyed so much power, indeed, that it was able to build one of the
grandest, most sumptuous palaces in the city.
There is no doubt that it was built at different times, but we do not know
exactly when it was started and whether it made use of some of the
previously existing buildings in the zone. We know that as early as the
13^th century (1224) there was a church called San Martino degli Zoppellari (or
Cipollari) reduced to the function of an oratory in 1550 in order to enlarge
the nearby church of San Moderanno. We also know that in 1688 Duke
Ranuccio sold the Rocchetta theater to count Alessandro Sanvitale in
exchange for other buildings, and that the count joined the theater to his
mansion. It is believed, therefore, that in the latter part of the 17^th century,
the Sanvitale family already owned a building on the same site, that was
rebuilt in the last thirty years of the 18^th century by the architect Angelo Rasori
and decorated by number of different artists.

The palace was the scene of many historical events and had many illustrious
guests: monarchs, princes, governors. In 1712 Conte Alessandro Sanvitale gave a
memorable ball there in honor of the Marquis of Susa, the son of the Duke of Savoy.
In 1728 there were theatrical events and grand balls given by count Luigi for the
expected marriage of Duke Antonio Farnese with Enrichetta d'Este. On November
9, 1804, Pope Pius VII stayed there on his way to Paris to crown Napoleon
emperor; Napoleon himself was a guest of the palace on June 26, 1805.
The Sanvitale mansion was truly a princely residence, worthy of the noble family
and adorned with the many works of art accumulated by several generations.