Palazzo Santa Margherita is located on Corso Canalgrande, one of the most charming streets in the historic center of Modena, in the area where a church dedicated to Santa Margherita once stood.

Used from the 12th century first as a convent then as a barracks, from 1874 it became the headquarters of the Patronato dei Figli del Popolo.

It now houses, in addition to the Galleria civica di Modena, other cultural services such as the Biblioteca Delfini, the Museo della Figurina and the Istituto Musicale Orazio Vecchi.