Page 83 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italian Riviera
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LE STR ADE NUOVE 81
the University of Genoa since Baroque mansion, modelled
1775. Today it houses the on a Roman palazzo. The
rectorate and several faculties. building acquired its present
Like the palazzi in Via Garibaldi name in 1825, when it became
(especially Palazzo Doria-Tursi), the Genoa residence of the
this palazzo has the familiar royal House of Savoy. Fontana’s
succession of atrium, raised internal courtyard is striking:
courtyard and hanging a combination of delightful
garden. The courtyard, architecture in red and
with paired columns, is yellow, with fine views
beautiful and airy. In over the port. The
the Great Hall (Aula superb mosaic
Magna) there is a pave ment in the
series of six statues garden came from
personifying the a monastery.
The internal courtyard of one of the theological and The palazzo’s
majestic palazzi on Via Balbi cardinal virtues by magnificent rooms,
Giambologna (1579). decorated in the 18th
0 Via Balbi The Biblioteca and 19th centuries by
Universitaria (university the Durazzo family
Map 2 E2.
library), occupies the Vase on display in and by the Savoys,
This street, leading from Piazza adjacent former church Palazzo Reale now form part of the
della Nunziata, was one of the of saints Gerolamo and Galleria Nazionale.
original Strade Nuove. Created Francesco Saverio. The apse, They contain furniture,
in 1602 by Bartolomeo Bianco with some fine frescoes furnishings and tapestries,
for the powerful Balbi family, its by Domenico Piola, has along with frescoes,
building was the result of a deal been transformed into a paintings and sculpture.
between the Balbi and the reading room. The 18th-century rooms
government, which ostensibly include the lavish and breath-
aimed to improve traffic flow in taking Galleria degli Specchi
the area. Ironically, Via Balbi can w Palazzo Reale (hall of mirrors), with a ceiling
occasionally be clogged with Via Balbi 10. Map 5 A1. Tel 010 271 frescoed by Domenico
traffic, though efforts have been 02 86. Open 9am–7pm Tue–Sat, Parodi. Rooms created by the
made to rectify this. By 1620, 1:30–7pm Sun & holidays, 9am–7pm Savoys include the Sala del
seven palazzi had been built, first day of the month. Closed 1 Jan, Trono (throne room), Sala delle
creating the Balbi’s very own 1 May, 25 Dec. & combined ticket Udienze (audience chamber)
residential quarter. Sadly, none valid for Palazzo Reale and Palazzo and the Salone da Ballo
of the palazzi are open to Spinola. ∑ palazzorealegenova.it (ballroom). The most valuable
the public. works of art in the museum
At no. 1, Palazzo Durazzo Constructed for the Balbi family include sculptures by Francesco
Pallavicini (1618), one of the in 1643–55, this fine palazzo was Schiaffino and Filippo Parodi
many residences to have been rebuilt for Eugenio Durazzo only and paintings by Luca Giordano,
designed by Bianco, has a lovely 50 years later. Its new designer, Van Dyck, Bernardo Strozzi,
atrium and a superb 18th-cen- Carlo Fontana, opted for a il Grechetto and Valerio Castello.
tury staircase. Palazzo Balbi
Senarega, another Bianco work
at no. 4, is now a university
faculty. Inside are fine frescoes
by Gregorio De Ferrari.
q Palazzo
dell’Università
Via Balbi 5. Map 2 E2. Tel 010 209 91.
Open 7am–7pm Mon–Fri; 7am–
noon Sat.
Perhaps the most famous
building on Via Balbi, this
palazzo was built as a Jesuit
college between 1634–36 to a
design by Bartolomeo Bianco.
It has functioned as the seat of The splendid Galleria degli Specchi in Palazzo Reale
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