Palazzo Carrega-Cataldi (Carrega-Cataldi Palace), Genoa
The Carrega-Cataldi (aka Tobia Pallavicino) palace, is a historic building located at Via Garibaldi number 4. The palace was built between 1558 and 1561 for Tobia Pallavicino, a wealthy merchant and descendant of one of the oldest noble families of the Genoese Republic, and was designed by Giovanni Battista Castello "il Bergamasco".
The 16th-century construction consisted of a cubic block of two floors, plus two mezzanines. The building had not undergone significant changes until the early 18th century, when it was acquired by the Carrega family. After that, it was raised by one floor and considerably enlarged, with two perpendicular wings added.
The clarity of the palace's front is Renaissance, with the ashlar finish in stone on the ground floor and the Ionic pilasters on the first floor, harmoniously marking the façade.
The interior design reflects two phases of the construction. In particular, the two vestibules on the ground floor and the main floor have both side walls and ceiling totally covered in late Renaissance decoration: stucco, grotesque and painted panels.
The second construction phase, of the 18th century, is seen in the Chapel and the Golden Gallery. The former, decorated by Lorenzo De Ferrari, carries stucco and fake stucco, surrounding the fresco depicting a flight of angels. The doors are decorated with painted medallions on canvas.
The complex decoration of the Golden Gallery represents a significant example of the Rococo style in Genoa. It was entirely conceived by De Ferrari, between 1734 and 1744, following a unitary design that blends together gilded stuccos, mirrors and frescoes.
In both spaces, the inner decoration becomes all-encompassing, merging walls, ceilings, doors, mirrors and furnishings in a sophisticated scenographic apparatus, destined to amaze the viewer.
Presently, the building houses the Genoa Chamber of Commerce.
The 16th-century construction consisted of a cubic block of two floors, plus two mezzanines. The building had not undergone significant changes until the early 18th century, when it was acquired by the Carrega family. After that, it was raised by one floor and considerably enlarged, with two perpendicular wings added.
The clarity of the palace's front is Renaissance, with the ashlar finish in stone on the ground floor and the Ionic pilasters on the first floor, harmoniously marking the façade.
The interior design reflects two phases of the construction. In particular, the two vestibules on the ground floor and the main floor have both side walls and ceiling totally covered in late Renaissance decoration: stucco, grotesque and painted panels.
The second construction phase, of the 18th century, is seen in the Chapel and the Golden Gallery. The former, decorated by Lorenzo De Ferrari, carries stucco and fake stucco, surrounding the fresco depicting a flight of angels. The doors are decorated with painted medallions on canvas.
The complex decoration of the Golden Gallery represents a significant example of the Rococo style in Genoa. It was entirely conceived by De Ferrari, between 1734 and 1744, following a unitary design that blends together gilded stuccos, mirrors and frescoes.
In both spaces, the inner decoration becomes all-encompassing, merging walls, ceilings, doors, mirrors and furnishings in a sophisticated scenographic apparatus, destined to amaze the viewer.
Presently, the building houses the Genoa Chamber of Commerce.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.
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Palazzo Carrega-Cataldi (Carrega-Cataldi Palace) on Map
Sight Name: Palazzo Carrega-Cataldi (Carrega-Cataldi Palace)
Sight Location: Genoa, Italy (See walking tours in Genoa)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Genoa, Italy (See walking tours in Genoa)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Genoa, Italy
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
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Travel Distance: 0.4 Km or 0.2 Miles