Galleria Nazionale Di Palazzo Spinola (Palazzo Spinola National Gallery), Genoa

The Palazzo Spinola National Gallery occupies a magnificent late 16th-century palace originally commissioned by Francesco Grimaldi. Over the centuries, the palazzo passed through the hands of Genoa's elite families (Pallavicino, Doria, Spinola) and in 1958, it was donated to the Italian state, with the condition that its opulent interiors and collections remain preserved.

The museum spans two grand noble floors, showcasing frescoed ceilings, ornate furnishings, and rich decorative arts that highlight Genoa’s aristocratic lifestyle. The first floor emphasizes the earlier eras under Grimaldi and Pallavicino ownership, while the second floor displays lavish rococo enhancements from the 18th-century renovations by Maddalena Doria and the Spinola family. Visitors can walk through elegant salons-including the famed Hall of Mirrors-where marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and frescoed vaults create an immersive experience of Baroque grandeur.

The gallery’s art collection features works by major Italian, Flemish, and European masters. Highlights include Behold the Man by Antonello da Messina, Portrait of Ansaldo Pallavicino by Anthony van Dyck, as well as paintings by Peter Paul Rubens, Joos van Cleve, Luca Giordano, Guido Reni, and Bernard Strozzi. Complementing the paintings are precious silver items, oriental porcelain, and decorative furnishings that once belonged to the palace’s noble residents.

Beyond the palace ambiance, the third floor hosts the National Gallery of Liguria-a state-run museum displaying regional art from the Middle Ages through to the 20th century.