Page 60 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italian Riviera

58  GENO A AREA B Y AREA

2 Palazzo Ducale (1655) with scenes celebrating
the glorious history of the city
Piazza Matteotti 9. Map 5 C3. Tel 010 of Genoa. This theme continues
817 16 63. Exhibitions: Open 9am–
7pm Tue–Sun. Shops: Open daily. in the decoration of the Sala
∑ palazzoducale.genova.it del Maggior Consiglio and the
Sala del Minor Consiglio. The
This palazzo, constructed Salone, designed by Simone
during the course of the Middle Cantoni, features paintings by
Ages, was given its name Giovanni David (c.1780), among
(meaning Doge’s Palace) in others. Since extensive
1339, when the election restoration in 1992, the
of Genoa’s first doge, palace has become
Simone Boccanegra, a venue for major
took place here. It exhibitions. In
was enlarged to its addition, there
current size in the are shops, bars
late 1500s by and restaurants
Andrea Vannone, a (including an
Lombard architect. expensive rooftop St Ignatius Exorcising the Devil, by
Further major Door knocker in the shape of restaurant with Rubens, Il Gesù
changes, the work a triton, Palazzo Ducale panoramic views).
of Neo-Classical the floor, the pilasters and
architect Simone Cantoni, 3 Il Gesù (or the walls of the side chapels.
were made in the late 18th The upper parts of the walls
century following a fire. These Sant’Ambrogio) have been finished with gilded
major changes included the Via Francesco Petrarca 1. Map 5 C4. stuccoes and frescoes by the
erection of the façade over- Tel 010 542 189. Open 10:30am– artist Giovanni Battista Carlone
looking Piazza Matteotti noon, 4–7pm daily (to 9:30pm Sun). (17th century).
(another lively, frescoed façade ^ without permission. The most valuable paintings
faces Piazza De Ferrari), which in the church all date from the
features pairs of columns and is This church, overlooking 17th century, including works
topped by statues and trophies. Piazza Matteotti, was built by by Guido Reni and Crucifixion
The palazzo is organized the Jesuits. It was begun in by Simon Vouet.
around Vannone’s attractive 1589, over the existing church There are also works that
atrium, with a large, elegant, of Sant’Ambrogio, and given were commissioned by the
porticoed courtyard at either the name of Il Gesù. The façade, Pallavicino family from Peter
end. The staircases up to the following the original design Paul Rubens: a Circumcision
first floor are lined with frescoes by Giuseppe Valeriani, was (1605) and St Ignatius Exorcising
by Lazzaro Tavarone and finished only at the end of the Devil (before 1620), both
Domenico Fiasella. the 19th century. acknowledged masterpieces
On the upper floor some of The sumptuous Baroque and precursors of the typical
the public rooms are very fine: interior consists of a single Baroque style.
the doge’s chapel was frescoed room topped by a dome. Multi-
by Giovanni Battista Carlone coloured marble decorates
4 Piazza De Ferrari
Map 6 D4.
This piazza, with its large
fountain, was created in the
late 19th century with the aim
of easing the flow of traffic
between the Centro Storico
and the western side of Genoa.
Its design had to accommodate
the existing buildings of the
Accademia Ligustica di Belle
Arti and the Teatro Carlo Felice,
both built by Carlo Barabino
in the 1820s. The new palazzi
built around these two
buildings are eclectic in style.
The building of the theatre
in 1991, the restoration of the
One of the spacious interior courtyards of Palazzo Ducale fountain and other alterations,
For hotels and restaurants in this area see p180 and pp188–9

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