Royal Palace of Genoa | |
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Palazzo Reale di Genova | |
View of the Palace
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Former names | Palazzo Stefano Balbi |
General information | |
Status | now used as a museum, National Gallery |
Type | Palace |
Location | Genoa, Italy |
Address | Via Balbi, 10 |
Coordinates | 44°24′53″N 8°55′34″E / 44.414861°N 8.926194°ECoordinates: 44°24′53″N 8°55′34″E / 44.414861°N 8.926194°E |
Construction started | 1618 |
Completed | 1655 |
Client | Balbi family, Durazzo family, House of Savoy |
Website | |
Official name | Palazzo Reale di Genova - Genoa: Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli |
Type | Cultural |
Criteria | ii, iv |
Designated | 2006 (30th session) |
Reference no. | 1211 |
State Party | Italy |
Region | Europe |
The Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace) or Palazzo Stefano Balbi is a major palace in Genoa.
The palace contains much original furniture and decoration. Frescoes inside include the Glory of the Balbi Family by Valerio Castello and Andrea Sghizzi, Spring changing slowly to Winter by Angelo Michele Colonna and Agostino Mitelli, and Jove establishes Justice on the Earth by Giovanni Battista Carlone. It also contains canvases by Bernardo Strozzi, il Grechetto, Giovanni Battista Gaulli, Domenico Fiasella as well as Bassano, Tintoretto, Luca Giordano, Anthony van Dyck, Ferdinand Voet, and Guercino. It contains statuary by Filippo Parodi.
Construction of the present structure began in 1618 for the Balbi family. From 1643-1655, work renewed under the direction of the architects Pier Francesco Cantone and Michele Moncino. In 1677, the palace was sold to the Durazzo Family, who enlarged the palace under the designs of Carlo Fontana.
In 1823, the palace was sold to the Royal House of Savoy. From 1919, the palace has belonged to the state.