Royal Palace, Genoa, Liguria, Italy, Europe
The royal palace or mansion Stefano Balbi is one of the most historic buildings in Genoa entered 13 July 2006 on the list of the 42 palaces enrolled to the Rolli of Genoa have become at that time a world heritage site by UNESCO. It is a museum complex consists of the historic house, the annexed garden and the art gallery, the gallery of the Royal Palace, which is one of the major collections towns. Located in Via Balbi 10, a short distance from the university and the train station Genova Piazza Principe, is part of an important architectural complex six-eighteenth century which are preserved intact the internal representation, from frescoes to stucco, from paintings to furniture. The construction of the building began in 1618 and 1620 by Stefano Balbi and Gio Francesco Balbi II, whose powerful family - that of Balbi - was already involved in the planning and construction of other buildings in the way that would bring their name. Between 1643 and 1655 began the second phase of construction by the architects Pier Francesco and Michele Moncino Canton, with a central square and two side wings that were extended towards the sea. In 1645 Francesco Maria Balbi took charge of the project, built the garden, renovated the lower floor and the frescoes commissioned to decorate the rooms and with his cousin Giovanni Battista Balbi it finished construction. In 1677 the family sold the mansion to the family Balbi Durazzo who enlarged with the incorporation of a nearby building (1685) and raised (in 1694) and in 1705 the building was completely transformed by Carlo Fontana, the Ticino architect who modified the portal, entrance hall and staircases, added the courtyard and roof garden overlooking via Prè and the basin of the Old Port, creating a set of great scenic value. And always in those years he was also built the theater of Falcone, active for several years. In 1823 the heirs sold it to the king of the House of Savoy who used it at the official residence and in 1842 the royal family commissioned production designer Michele Genovese Canzio to transform some environments, such as the salt of the Throne and the Audience and lounge Ballroom, to fit the new needs of representation. In 1919 he became state property. The palace, in the sea, had an appendix, that the Genoese called Royal Bridge, that bypassing the driveway (now Via Gramsci) directly connected with the building the pier of the port. This part of the building was demolished in 1964 during the construction of the causeway. The royal palace is the original furniture from throughout its long history and includes Genoese furniture, Piedmont and the French half of the seventeenth century until the early twentieth century. Among the frescoes are the most important to note Fame Balbi Valerio Castello and Andrea Seghizzi, The spring that pushes away the winter of Angelo Michele Colonna and Agostino Mitelli and Jupiter sends righteousness on earth Giovanni Battista Carlone. With over two hundred paintings on display in the two main floors are works by the greatest artists of the seventeenth century as a Genoese Bernardo Strozzi, Grechetto, Giovanni Battista Gaulli said Baciccio, Domenico Fiasella along with masterpieces by Bassano, Tintoretto, Luca Giordano, Anthony Van Dyck, Simon Vouet and Guercino. Also you can see a collection of ancient and modern sculptures: among these outstanding works of Filippo Parodi, one of the greatest exponents of Baroque sculpture Genoese.