Description of the attraction
Palazzo Rosso - one of the oldest palaces in Genoa, located on Via Garibaldi, 18 and now given over to an art gallery. In 2006, it became one of the 42 palaces of Genoa included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as "Palazzi dei Rolli".
The palace was built by the architect Pietro Antonio Corradi between 1671 and 1677 at the direction of Rodolfo and Joe Francesco Brignole-Sale. Until 1874, it remained in the possession of this family, until Maria Brignole-Sale, Duchess of Galliera, bequeathed it to the people of Genoa in order to "increase the artistic splendor of the city." So Palazzo Rosso became a municipal property and was turned into a gallery. Together with Palazzo Bianco and Palazzo Doria Tursi, it forms part of the museum complex on Via Garibaldi, which houses works of art collected by the Brignole Sale family.
The portraits donated by the Duchess of Galliera became the basis of the art collection, in which today you can see the works of such masters as Van Dyck, Guido Reni, Paolo Veronese, Guercino, Gregorio De Ferrari, Albrecht Durer, Bernardo Strozzi, Mattia Preti, etc. textile items, primarily costumes and tapestries, rare cards and stamps.
The Palazzo itself was decorated in 1679 by Domenico Piola and Gregorio De Ferrari, who completed the main salon and painted its ceiling with frescoes. They also completed the design of four other rooms, dedicated to the seasons. Unfortunately, De Ferrari's frescoes were destroyed during the bombing of Genoa during the Second World War.
In 1691, Giovanni Andrea Carlone, Carlo Antonio Tavella and Bartolomeo Guidobono worked on the decoration of the palace. In general, restoration work of various scales lasted until the middle of the 19th century.
