Palaces and Villas in Liguria

Royal Palace

The Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale in Italian), located in Balbi street near the university and the station of Genoa, is one of the most famous buildings that belong to UNESCO. It was built between 1618 and 1620 by Stefano and Francesco Balbi, who belonged to a rich family and gave the street their name.
The building is compoused by three important parts: the historical residence, the courtyard and the unique art gallery. In general, the whole structure shows a 16th-17th style of architecture and has kept intact the inner rooms, fresco paintings, stuccos and famous Genoese artists pictures. In addition, the palace preserved luxurious Genoese, French and Piedmontese furniture. The Palace had been the property of different families. In 1677 the Balbi family sold the building to Durazzo family who enlarged it.
Then, in 1705 the architect Carlo Fontana modified the gate, tha atrium, the stairwells and added the courtyard. In 1832 new heirs sold the palace to Savoia family who chose it as the official residence. Finally, due to its fantastic interiors and the value of the furnishings, became a government property in 1919.

Opening Times

• Tuesday-Wednesday open from 9.00 a.m to 13.30p.m
• Thursday-Sunday open from 9.00a.m to 7.00p.m
• Closed on Monday
• Tel. 0102710236
• Free entry for juniors aged under 18 years old and Seniors aged over 65 years old.

Villa Ormond

The spectacular villa Ormond rises in the east of Sanremo. It was the residence of the rich swiss doctor Ormond.
Both the doctor and his french wife Marie Margherite Renet decided to rebuilt the villa, due to a major earthquake in 1887. Tourists should visit villa Ormond to admire its architecture and its position. The Ormond family charged the architect Emile Réverdin with designing the villa. He had an original idea: the building had to "reign" over the garden and so it was constructed on the top of hill.
The huge white villa stands out in the garden and it is in a perfect classical architectural style. Actually the building is surrounded by a spacious balcony with two loggias of the Renaissance and greek columns in front of the entrance. Inside the villa there are lots of coffer ceilings of different colors.
In 1930 the municipality of Sanremo bought the villa and the whole gardens around the building became a public park. A beautiful fountain was located in the lower part of the park, while the exhibitions stand was placed higher. So, nowadays the whole area around villa Ormond is a great natural park where it is possible to find original examples of tropical flora such as: palm trees,cedars and ficus. Then, there are also typical italian gardens or the Japanese ones(based on the Zen philosophy).
Villa Ormond is not only the seat of flowers shows, but today, part of the villa hosts the International Institute of Humanitarian Law.

Palazzo Lucciardi

Lucciardi palace is one of the most famous buildings in Sarzana. The palace was built in 1819, according to Carlo Barabino's project and it is characterized by a neoclassical style. It's a kind of quadrangular building that reminds the shape of a temple. Original details are doric columns. There's a rusticated ground floor and a huge main door.
A thing that really struck is the different height of the ceilings of each floor. For example, at the second floor windows are reduced by one third in height. The chessboard entrance has two different colours: black and white. A characteristic particular is the rose window which has a precious wrought iron chandelier.
The Ducale Palace or Palace of the Doges is an historical building, located in Matteotti square, where the Doges lived during the ancient Maritime Republic. Nowadays, the palace is not only the seat of Judicial offices, but also an interesting museum of the Ligurian City. The construction of the first parts of the palace started at the end of 1200 but the Torre Grimaldina or "Tower of the People", was completed only in 1539.
In the same period, the palace was enlarged with some courtyards, which are considered spectacular elements of architecture. Throughout the century,the Tower and the whole building were prisons, except the higher cage. In 1777 part of the Palace was destroyed by a terrible fire and both the façade and the inner rooms were rebuilt in Neoclassical style by the architect Simone Cantoni. During the Second World War bombings damaged the building which was restored between 1990 and 1992.

Opening Times

• The palace is open every day.
• During exhibitions, the Palace is open from Tueasday to Sunday 9.00a.m-7.00p.m. Closed on Monday.
• Ticket office is open from 9.00am to 6.30pm.
• Tel. 0039-0105574000 Fax:0039-0105574001
• email: palazzoducale@palazzoducale.genova.it
• Piazza Matteotti 16123, Genoa.

Palace of Saint George

St.George palace is one of the most well-known buildings in Genoa and it is situated in the Caricamento square. It was constructed in 1260 under the order of the captain of People Guglielmo BoccanegraL'edificazio, thanks to a White Monk who proyected the extension of the old dock.
In 1300, the palace was the seat of the custom house and of some Magistratures that controlled all the trades. Only in the 15th century the palace became the home of the Bank of Saint George ( one of the first banks developed in Italy) that gives the name to the building.
The palace is a wonderful example of Medieval Civil architecture. What is more the ancient section of the structure is made of materials used from the demolition of the Venetian embassy in Costantinople, after Genoeses aid to Byzantine Emperor against the Latin Empire.
In addition, there are some important details in the palace. In the façade tourists can admire a Lazzaro Tavarrone's fresco painting which dates back 1610 and represents Saint George. Three Lion heads, such as those ones in Venice, jut out from marble blocks and are sculpted in a mixed style: gothic and archaic ones.
The palace is extremely famous because of Marco Polo, who was imprisoned here by the Republic of Genoa. During the period in detention, the venecian sailor recount/told the memories of his voyage to Rustichello from Pisa, which were published under the title of "Milione". From 1903, Saint George Palace is the home of both Genoese and national Port Authorities. Next to the palace, there's another important section: the lodge of the Whites, were exhibitions and cultural demonstrations take place.