The Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace) or Palazzo Stefano Balbi is a major palace in

Genoa Genoa ( ; it, Genova ; lij, Zêna ). is the capital of the Italian region of Liguria and the sixth-largest city in Italy. In 2015, 594,733 people lived within the city's administrative limits. As of the 2011 Italian census, the Province of ...

History

Construction of the present structure began in 1618 for the Balbi family. From 1643 to 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 The Durazzo Family is a noble Italian family of Albanian origin who came from the city of Durrës in Albania. The Durazzo family assisted the Republic of Genoa on the development of many cities. Durazzo Family gave nine "Doge" to the city of Geno ...

, who enlarged the palace under the designs of

Carlo Fontana Carlo Fontana (1634 or 1638–1714) was an Italian architect originating from today's Canton Ticino, who was in part responsible for the classicizing direction taken by Late Baroque Roman architecture. Biography There seems to be no proof tha ...

. In 1823, the palace was sold to the Royal House of Savoy. From 1919, the palace has belonged to the state.

Decor

The palace contains much original furniture and decoration. Frescoes inside include the ''Glory of the Balbi Family'' by

Valerio Castello Valerio Castello (1624October 1659) born in Genoa, was an Italian painter of the Baroque period and one of the pre-eminent Ligurian painters of his time. His art drew inspiration from a wide range of sources. He painted on canvas and fresco.Ma ...

and Andrea Sghizzi, ''Spring changing slowly to Winter'' by

Angelo Michele Colonna Angelo Michele Colonna (21 September 1604 - 1687) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active in Bologna, northern and central Italy and Spain. He is sometimes referred to as Michelangelo Colonna. Biography He was born in Rovenna. As a ...

and Agostino Mitelli, and ''Jove establishes Justice on the Earth'' by

Giovanni Battista Carlone Giovanni Battista Carlone (1603–1684) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active mainly in Genoa. Biography Carlone was born and died in Genoa. He came from a family of artists: his father Taddeo, uncle, and cousins were sculptors ...

. It also contains canvases by

Bernardo Strozzi Bernardo Strozzi, named il Cappuccino and il Prete Genovese (c. 1581 – 2 August 1644) was an Italian Baroque painter and engraver. A canvas and fresco artist, his wide subject range included history, allegorical, genre and portrait paintin ...

, il

Grechetto Grechetto () or Grechetto bianco is a white Italian wine grape variety of Greek origins. The grape is planted throughout central Italy, particularly in the Umbria region where it is used in the ''Denominazione di origine controllata'' (DOC) win ...

Giovanni Battista Gaulli Giovanni Battista Gaulli (8 May 1639 – 2 April 1709), also known as Baciccio or Baciccia (Genoese nicknames for ''Giovanni Battista''), was an Italian artist working in the High Baroque and early Rococo periods. He is best known for his grand ...

, Domenico Fiasella as well as Bassano,

Tintoretto Tintoretto ( , , ; born Jacopo Robusti; late September or early October 1518Bernari and de Vecchi 1970, p. 83.31 May 1594) was an Italian painter identified with the Venetian school. His contemporaries both admired and criticized the speed wit ...

Luca Giordano Luca Giordano (18 October 1634 – 3 January 1705) was an Italian late-Baroque painter and printmaker in etching. Fluent and decorative, he worked successfully in Naples and Rome, Florence, and Venice, before spending a decade in Spain. Earl ...

, Anthony van Dyck, Ferdinand Voet, and

Guercino Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (February 8, 1591 – December 22, 1666),Miller, 1964 better known as Guercino, or il Guercino , was an Italian Baroque painter and draftsman from Cento in the Emilia region, who was active in Rome and Bologna. The vi ...

. It contains statuary by Filippo Parodi.

Gallery

File:Genova-palazzo reale-esterno via Balbi1.jpg, La facciata principale del palazzo File:Palazzo Reale (Genoa) 01.JPG, La ''Galleria''. File:Genova-AP-1010562.jpg, Il ninfeo nel giardino. File:Interior Palazzo Reale Genova 2015 3.jpg, La ''Sala del Trono''. Image:Genovareale0001.jpg, Gardens of the Palazzo Reale

References

External links

Official site of the Royal Palace
{{authority control Houses completed in 1655

Reale Reale is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Damien Reale (born 1981), Irish hurler *David Reale (born 1984), Canadian actor *Enzo Reale (born 1991), French footballer *Federigo Reale, 19th-century Italian painter *Giovanni Reale ( ...

Palazzi dei Rolli Museums in Genoa Historic house museums in Italy Royal residences in Italy National museums of Italy Art museums and galleries in Genoa 1655 establishments in Italy

History

Decor

Gallery

See also

References

External links