Palazzo Doria-Tursi

Palazzo Doria-Tursi on Genoa's Via Garibaldi houses the city hall and civic museum collections, including Paganini's Guarneri del Gesù violin, Il Cannone.

Why it matters

Begun in 1565 for banker Niccolò Grimaldi, the palace occupies three building lots and is one of the largest residences on Via Garibaldi. Its facade combines pink Finale stone, dark slate and white Carrara marble. The building later passed to the Doria family of Tursi, the House of Savoy and the municipality, illustrating Genoa's transition from merchant republic to modern civic government.

What to notice

The municipal museum presents paintings, ceramics, coins, medals and tapestries. Among its works is Canova's Magdalene. The Paganini rooms preserve memorabilia connected with the Genoese violinist, including Il Cannone, a 1743 Guarneri del Gesù violin bequeathed to the city. Its long-term preservation in Genoa reflects Paganini's wish that the instrument remain in his native city.

Context and history

Domenico and Giovanni Ponzello designed the palace for Grimaldi, whose financial difficulties interrupted the original project. The property passed to Gio. Andrea Doria in 1593 and became known as Doria-Tursi. The House of Savoy bought it in 1820; after a period of Jesuit use, the municipality acquired it in 1850 and made it the seat of city government. The civic museum opened in its present form in 2003–2004 as part of a wider museum circuit along Via Garibaldi.