About this experience
Genoa as a city was formed from multiple independent estates belonging to powerful clans of the Genoese Republic. These neighborhoods had their own churches, squares, palaces, and houses. Each family sought to outdo their neighbors in luxury, and the result of this fierce vanity competition is now enjoyed by us: Genoese palaces are magnificent, churches are delightful, and house facades are adorned with frescoes and stucco.
Every city has a street that stands out among the rest. In Genoa, there are two - Garibaldi and Balbi. In the old part of the city, they started paving the New Street (Garibaldi) already in the second half of the XVI century. Auctions were held for the distribution of land plots in this prestigious area, in which the wealthiest families of Genoa participated.
In 2006, 42 Genoese palaces were included in the UNESCO cultural heritage list.
Program
- Among the many built palaces, two deserve special attention - Palazzo Rosso and Bianco (Red and White Palaces). Today, they house the richest collections of paintings by local, Italian, Flemish, German, Spanish masters.
- Connoisseurs of beauty will not be able to leave without sublime feelings and impressions, seeing the magnificent halls and luxurious wall paintings of the Dorias, Spinolas, Grimaldis, Pallavicinos, Lomellinos.
- It is necessary to visit one of the richest Churches-Basilicas "Santissima Annunziata" (Annunciation). Its vaults covered with golden openwork will remind you of the palaces seen before.
- The Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale) is an exquisite residence that belonged to the last Savoy dynasty, abounds in interiors in the Baroque and Rococo styles. Initially, the Balbi family lived in the Palace, then the Durazzo family, and later the royal Savoy family. Its Mirror Hall is especially beautiful, which will be marked by the French Sun King and the idea of which, in a grander scale, he will embody in his majestic Versailles. It mainly features works by Genoese, Flemish, and European painters. Among the paintings, you can find one of the rare paintings by van Dyck "The Crucifixion of Christ". Today, it is a luxurious museum with antique furniture and art pieces, with an elegant inner courtyard.
