Palazzo Balbi Piovera Francesco, Renaissance palace in Via Balbi, Genoa, Italy
Palazzo Francesco Maria Balbi Piovera, also called Palazzo Raggio, stands at Via Balbi 6 in Genoa. Built from 1657 to 1665 by architect Pietro Antonio Corradi for Francesco Maria Balbi, it is the last palace on the street. Its interior was heavily rebuilt from 1881 for shipowner Edilio Raggio, with a grand staircase on flying arches and cross vaults leading to new reception rooms.
The palace was built between 1657 and 1665 by architect Pietro Antonio Corradi for Francesco Maria Balbi. Later it received extensive renovations under Edilio Raggio in 1870.
The frescoes inside show scenes of Genoese trade and honor Italian unification and the House of Savoy. These wall paintings tell the story of the city's importance as a trading power and its political past.
The palace is now used by the Faculty of Letters of the University of Genoa and is open to visitors at certain times. It is best to check opening hours in advance since its use as a university building may affect access.
The palace is part of the Palazzi dei Rolli system, a network of noble residences specifically designed to host high-ranking visitors during official state visits to Genoa. This system reveals how the city used its grandest buildings for diplomatic purposes.
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