Palazzo Maurogordato

Palazzo Maurogordato is a Renaissance Revival palace in Livorno situated along the Fosso Reale waterway. The building displays a rusticated base, regularly spaced window openings, and a prominent balcony framing the main entrance, while upper floors contained residences with private terraces and the ground level accommodated commercial uses.

The palace was designed between 1856 and 1864 by architect Giuseppe Cappellini for Greek merchant Giorgio Maurogordato, with master builder Giovanni Mazzanti overseeing its completion. Its construction reflects the prosperity of Livorno's trading community during this mid-19th century period.

The interior reflects 19th-century tastes with ornate painted decorations and a formal entrance hall showing how wealthy merchants of that era chose to display their status. The spaces reveal the lifestyle and aesthetic values of the Greek trader who commissioned this residence.

The building sits directly on the waterfront and is easy to spot from the street due to its distinctive balcony and rusticated base setting it apart from neighboring structures. Since the interior served as office space for many decades, visitor access may be limited, so checking current conditions before arrival is worthwhile.

From 1900 onward, the structure served as headquarters for Italian electricity companies until Enel relocated its offices in 2010, making it far more significant as an industrial landmark than as a private home. This corporate purpose defined much of its modern identity and daily use over a century.