The palazzo Francesco Maria Balbi Piovera' is a building located in via Balbi at number 6 in the historical centre of Genoa, included on 13 July 2006 in the list of the 42 palaces inscribed in the Rolli di Genova that became World Heritage by UNESCO on that date. The building, also known by the name of palazzo Raggio from the name of the armor who purchased it in the 19th century, is today the seat of the Faculty of Letters of the University of Genoa.
The last of the palaces in via Balbi, it was erected between 1657 and 1665 on the initiative of Francesco Maria Balbi, a leading figure in the family (after Stefano), engaged in numerous financial and political activities including the appointment as feudal lord of the Alessandria village of Piovera, who commissioned the architect Pietro Antonio Corradi (1613—1683) for the project; the building is, however, better known as the residence of his nephew Costantino Balbi.[1]
The decorations on the staircase.
It underwent profound alterations starting from the first decades of the 19th century when the new owner, Marcello Luigi Durazzo (secretary of the Accademia Ligustica di Belle Arti) commissioned the architect Nicolò Laverneda and the painters Michele Canzio, Francesco Baratta and Giuseppe Gaggini to restore and decorate the palace.
More radical transformations took place at the behest of Edilio Raggio, a shipowner and industrialist, who bought the building from the Gropallo family in 1870, suppressing all memory of the historical complex of the hospital and abbey of Sant’Antonio Abate that faced, at noon of the block, onto via Pré.
The architect Luigi Rovelli, commissioned by Edilio Raggio, not only demolished the church rebuilt by the architect Giovanni Battista Grigo in 1650 in 1881, but also proceeded with a massive demolition of the interior of the palace to build new reception rooms and erect an imposing staircase supported by rampant arches and cross vaults.
One of the reception rooms was decorated by the fresco painter Luigi Gainotti (1859—1940) with an exaltation of Genoa's merchant activity,[2] while the decoration of the walls and the vault of the staircase was entrusted in 1883 to the painter Cesare Viazzi (1857—1943) who produced a cycle of seven works celebrating the Sabard dynasty using the tempera technique (L’Italia del Popolo, The Monarchy swears allegiance to the Statute, Slavery with tied hands looks at Buonarroti’s dome, Italy sits on the throne of Rome, The Wars for the Unity of Italy commemorated by putti with festoons (2), Putti support the Savoy coat of arms that is not visible in the Tricolour of Italy).
The work was liked, it was widely praised and the Genoese newspaper Il Caffaro (successor to the historical Annali del Caffaro) dedicated an entire page to it, illustrated,[3] later granted in reproduction to the Novi Ligure periodical The Society. Raggio also entrusted Viazzi with the decorations of the Raggio castle in Cornigliano, which was later demolished in 1951 for the construction of the «Cristoforo Colombo» Airport in Genoa-Sestri Ponente.
Palazzo Schifanoia is a Renaissance palace in Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna (Italy) built for the Este family. The name "Schifanoia" is thought to originate from "schivar la noia" meaning literally to "escape from boredom" which describes accurately the original intention of the palazzo and the other villas in close proximity where the Este court relaxed. The highlights of its decorations are the allegorical frescoes with details in tempera by or after Francesco del Cossa and Cosmè Tura, executed ca 1469–70, a unique survival of their time.
Balbi is the surname of the ancient noble Roman Family of Balbi where after the fall of the Western part of the Roman Empire and during the middle ages expanded in Venice, Genoa, Constantinople, Greece, Spain, Germany, Malta and other places. Balbi is one of the few surnames that has remained unchanged over the centuries and was one of the most famous prominent and wealthy families in Italy. Members of the Balbi family held high rank positions and noble titles such as Patrician, Senators, Dukes, Doge, Barons, Marchese, Lords e.t.c in the Maritime Republics of Venice and Genoa, the Eastern Roman and Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, enganed in piracy, maritime trade, stock market and war activities where acquired wealth and power. Later in history many Balbi's participated in historical events such as revolutions, battles or served as Generals, Members of Parliament and Prime Ministers in many countries.
Genoa: Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which includes a number of streets and palaces in the center of Genoa, in Northwestern Italy.
The Palazzo Reale or Palazzo Stefano Balbi is a major palace in Genoa.
Cesare Viazzi was an Italian painter.
The Palazzo Angelo Giovanni Spinola is a palace located in Via Garibaldi, in the historical center of Genoa, in Northwestern Italy. It was one of the 163 Palazzi dei Rolli of Genoa, the selected private residences where the notable guests of the Republic of Genoa were hosted during State visits. On 13 luglio del 2006 it was included in the list of 42 palaces which now form the UNESCO World Heritage Site Genoa: Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli. Now owned by a bank, it is possible to visit the areas open to the public.
The Palazzo Doria or Palazzo Andrea e Gio. Batta Spinola is a palace located in Via Garibaldi, in the historical center of Genoa, in Northwestern Italy. It was one of the 163 Palazzi dei Rolli of Genoa, the selected private residences where the notable guests of the Republic of Genoa were hosted during State visits. On 13 luglio del 2006 it was included in the list of 42 palaces which now form the UNESCO World Heritage Site Genoa: Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli.
The Palazzo Spinola di Pellicceria, also known as Palazzo Francesco Grimaldi, is a palace located in piazza di Pellicceria in the historical center of Genoa, Northwestern Italy. The palace was one of the 163 Palazzi dei Rolli of Genoa, the selected private residences where the notable guests of the Republic of Genoa were hosted during State visits. On 13 luglio del 2006 it was added to the list of 42 palaces which now form the UNESCO World Heritage Site Genoa: Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli. It is currently owned by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism and houses the National Gallery of Art in Palazzo Spinola.
Maddalena is a neighbourhood in the old town of the Italian city of Genoa. It was one of the six sestieri of ancient Genoa. At present it is part of the Genoa's city Municipio I.
The Palazzo Clemente della Rovere is a palace located in Piazza Rovere in the historical center of Genoa, Northwestern Italy. The palace was one of the 163 Palazzi dei Rolli of Genoa, the selected private residences where the notable guests of the Republic of Genoa were hosted during State visits. On 13 luglio 2006 it was added to the list of 42 palaces which now form the UNESCO World Heritage Site Genoa: Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli. The palace hosts today the General Consulate of Iceland.
Palazzo Durazzo-Pallavicini or Palazzo di Gio Agostino Balbi is a building on Via Balbi in the historic city centre of Genoa. On 13 July 2006 it became one of 42 palazzi included in the new Palazzi dei Rolli World Heritage Site.
The palazzo Podestà or Nicolosio Lomellino is a building located in via Garibaldi (Genoa) at number 7 in the historical centre of Genoa, included on 13 July 2006 in the list of the 42 palaces inscribed in the Rolli di Genova that became World Heritage by UNESCO on that date.
The palazzo Paolo Battista e Niccolò Interiano or palazzo Interiano Pallavicino is a building located in Piazza delle Fontane Marose at number 2 in Genoa, included on 13 July 2006 in the list of the 42 palaces inscribed in the Rolli di Genova that have become World Heritage by UNESCO.
The Palazzo Lercari-Parodi or Palazzo Franco Lercari is a building located at number 3, Via Garibaldi in the historical centre of Genoa, included on 13 July 2006 in the list of the 42 palaces inscribed in the Rolli di Genova that became World Heritage by UNESCO on that date.
The Palazzo Tommaso Spinola, also known as Palazzo Tomaso Spinola di Luccoli or Palazzo Spinola Pessagno, is a building located in salita di Santa Caterina at number 3 in Genoa, included on 13 July 2006 in the list of the 42 palaces inscribed in the Rolli di Genova that became World Heritage by UNESCO on that date.
The Palazzo Lomellini-Doria Lamb', also called Palazzo Stefano Lomellini, is a building located in Via Cairoli (Genoa) at number 18 in the historical centre of Genoa, included on 13 July 2006 in the list of the 42 palaces inscribed in the Rolli di Genova, which on that date became World Heritage by UNESCO.
The palazzo Gio Battista Grimaldi is a building located in vico San Luca at no. 4 in the historical centre of Genoa, included on 13 July 2006 in the list of the 42 palaces inscribed in the Rolli di Genova that became World Heritage by UNESCO on that date.
The Palazzo Gerolamo Grimaldi also known as the palazzo della Meridiana is a building located in the salita di San Francesco at number 4 in the historical centre of Genoa, included on 13 July 2006 in the list of the forty-two palaces inscribed in the Rolli di Genova that became World Heritage by UNESCO on that date.
The palazzo Belimbau, also known as palazzo Antoniotto Cattaneo or Palazzo Francesco De Ferrari, is a building located in Piazza della Nunziata at number 2 in Genoa, included on 13 July 2006 in the list of the 42 palaces inscribed in the Rolli di Genova that became World Heritage by UNESCO on that date.
Luigi Agretti was an Italian painter and decorator.
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