Palazzo delle Colonne di Marmo (Palace of the Marble Columns), Livorno

The Palace of the Marble Columns (Palazzo delle Colonne di Marmo) is an elegant historical building located in the New Venice (Venezia Nuova) district of Livorno. The structure takes its name from the two Tuscan marble columns that flank the entrance, providing a touch of grandeur to the façade.

In the late 17th century, Governor Marco Alessandro Del Borro's decree to reduce the New Fortress allowed for new construction, sparking the expansion of the New Venice district and attracting merchants to build their homes there. Among these was the Lucca merchant Ottavio Gamberini, who acquired a plot of land extending from Via Borra to the Fosso della Venezia in 1703. He commissioned a palace, possibly designed by the renowned architect Giovan Battista Foggini, though this attribution remains uncertain.

The palace’s design underwent significant modifications over time, including the addition of an extra floor. By 1912, the building had passed from the Bicchierai family (who owned it since 1718) to the Monte di Pietà, a neighboring institution. Over the years, it also housed the State Archives.

Architecturally, the palace features a rectangular layout, with one side facing Via Borra and the other opening onto the Fosso. The façade is its most striking feature, adorned with Carrara marble and decorative elements, including sinuous pediments topped with statues representing the Four Seasons. The ground floor exudes a Baroque style, accentuated by the slight rotation of the column bases and capitals, which seem to invite the street into the building’s space. The upper floor windows are framed with highly detailed masks, adding to the structure’s ornate character.

Inside, a small courtyard is surrounded by a portico on one side, with Pietra Serena stone elements that reflect the austere elegance of 16th-century Florentine residences. The courtyard's windows allow natural light to flood the staircase, further enhancing the building's refined design.