Villa Spinola di San Pietro, villa in Genoa, Italy
Villa Spinola di San Pietro is a historic manor house in Genoa set on a hillside overlooking the city. The building displays classical Italian architecture with symmetrical lines, contains rooms with historical furnishings and decorated walls, while the surrounding garden with native plants and trees invites visitors to linger.
The building was constructed during the Renaissance and was originally owned by the noble Spinola family, who held it during the 1600s and 1700s. Its architecture and decoration, including frescoes by artists like Bernardo Castello and Giovanni Carlone, bear witness to this period of splendor.
The villa served as a residence for the wealthy Spinola family, whose name it still carries today. The site reflects the importance such noble estates held in Genoa during their period of prominence.
The estate is accessible via local roads and sits on hilly terrain, so some walking is required to reach it. The best time to visit is spring or early fall when the weather is comfortable and the light shows the architecture and garden in warm tones.
Historical accounts suggest a secret tunnel once ran from the villa's basement to a nearby church. Such hidden passages were typical of noble estates of that era and allowed private routes through the city.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.