Palazzo della Meridiana, Renaissance palace museum in central Genoa, Italy
Palazzo della Meridiana is a Renaissance palace in central Genoa with a northern facade decorated with frescoes depicting the Labours of Hercules. The building contains two internal loggia courtyards and gardens that open the palace from its exterior to its interior spaces.
A Genoese banker named Gerolamo Grimaldi Oliva initiated construction in 1536 and completed it in 1544, after building his wealth in Portugal and Spain. Late 18th-century renovation work in the surrounding area led to alterations at the building, including the addition of the sundial.
The name comes from a sundial added during later renovations, which became so defining that visitors and locals still recognize the palace by this feature today. This connection to timekeeping reflects the practical interests of the wealthy merchants who shaped Genoa's urban life.
The building sits at Salita di San Francesco 4 in Genoa's historic center and is easily reached on foot. Today the palace combines museum functions with commercial uses, so check opening times and possible access restrictions before your visit.
The main facade features frescoes created between 1556 and 1566 by renowned artists including Luca Cambiaso and Giovanni Battista Castello. These artworks rank among the most significant decorative elements of Genoese Renaissance architecture and display the technical mastery of the period.
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