Palazzo Balbi Gio. Francesco, building in Genoa, Italy

Palazzo Balbi Gio. Francesco is a large palace in Genoa built by combining neighboring structures into one residence, with a corner position that makes it visible from multiple sides. The street-facing front features an open colonnade arcade at ground level, while upper floors display 18th-century stucco decorations in detail.

Gio. Francesco Balbi, governor of the Republic of Genoa, enlarged the family residence in the 16th century by annexing neighbouring buildings. His son Stefano extended it in the first half of the 17th century, straightening the street front and adding a tall loggia facade. The palace passed by inheritance to the Cattaneo della Volta family, who in the 18th century had Gregorio Petondi decorate the facade and interiors with stucco. Bombing in World War II brought down the roofs; Luigi Carlo Daneri rebuilt them following the original composition.

The palace takes its name from the Balbi family, who kept it in the 1664 rollo; through inheritance it passed to the Cattaneo della Volta, who in the 18th century had Gregorio Petondi decorate the facade and interiors with stucco. In the hall used as an aula magna hang portraits of Doges Giovanni Battista, Nicolò and Cesare Cattaneo della Volta, painted by Gio Enrico Vaymer and Pellegro Parodi.

The palace stands at Via Balbi 2, on the corner with Piazza della Nunziata, a short walk from Genova Piazza Principe station. Since 2001 it has belonged to the University of Genoa, which uses it for offices and classrooms of the School of Humanities; the entrance is on the street front and the building is seen from outside rather than toured.

The palace was part of the Rolli di Genova, a UNESCO-recognized list of historic houses specifically used to host visiting dignitaries and officials from abroad. Its place in this system reveals how Genoa impressed guests through the scale and splendor of its privately owned residences.