Palazzo Ghilini

Palazzo Ghilini is an eighteenth-century Baroque residence on Piazza della Libertà in Alessandria. Built for the Ghilini family, it now houses the Prefecture and is one of the city's most significant historic buildings.

Why it matters

The palace reflects Alessandria's transformation from a fortress town into an elegant Savoyard centre. Its later public role as the seat of state administration connects aristocratic architecture with the institutions of the modern province.

What to notice

The long façade is organised in regular horizontal bands, with rusticated stonework at ground level and evenly spaced upper windows. Behind the entrance is an octagonal vestibule and monumental staircases, a scenographic sequence that expressed the status of the original owners.

Context and history

Construction began in 1732 for the Ghilini family, whose service to the House of Savoy and Republic of Genoa had strengthened their standing. The design and early building campaign are associated with architect Benedetto Alfieri. The palace later passed into public use and became the seat of the Prefecture. The surrounding square was reshaped after the medieval cathedral was demolished in 1803.