The Genoese palace that once hosted the most prestigious stop on the Grand Tour
In short: Located at via Garibaldi 12, the Palazzo Baldassarre Lomellini is a UNESCO World Heritage site with a storied past. From its 16th-century origins as a banker's residence to its transformation into a neoclassical masterpiece, this building has survived centuries of architectural evolution, wartime destruction, and shifting ownership.
Commissioned in 1562 by Baldassarre Lomellini, a banker to King Philip II of Spain, the palazzo was designed by Giovanni Ponzello. The original structure featured frescoes by Andrea Semino, which remain visible today in the Sala degli zecchini, depicting scenes from Titus Livius. While much of the 16th-century exterior has vanished, the white marble portal crafted by Taddeo Carlone survives, bearing the Latin inscription 'venturi non immemor aevi'.
The building underwent a dramatic transformation in 1772 after Marquis Cristoforo Spinola acquired it. Seeking to align the residence with emerging neoclassical trends, Spinola enlisted Genoese architect Emanuele Andrea Tagliafichi and the French architect Charles De Wailly. Their collaboration resulted in a rigorous atrium and a porticoed courtyard. The project's centerpiece was the 'Salone del Sole', a grand space inspired by the Palace of Versailles. This room became a legendary destination for travelers on the Grand Tour, earning mentions in the writings of Stendhal and Flaubert, and its design was immortalized in the Encyclopédie of Diderot and d’Alembert.
The palace's fortunes shifted significantly in the 20th century. After being purchased by shipowner Tito Campanella in 1917, the building served as both his office and residence. Tragedy struck in 1942 when bombing raids gutted the famous Salone del Sole. Although the original decorations were lost and never reconstructed, the palazzo remains a vital piece of history. Today, visitors can still explore the first floor and view the surviving frescoes by Semino, as well as the second-floor rooms featuring works by Giovan Battista Castello il Bergamasco and Michele Canzio. It was officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site on 13 July 2006, as part of the Rolli di Genova collection.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Palazzo Campanella o di Baldassarre Lomellini
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