Palazzo Giorgio Centurione

The Palazzo Giorgio Centurione is a building located in Via Lomellini at no. 5 in the historical centre of Genoa, included on 13 July 2006 in the list of the 42 palaces inscribed in the Rolli di Genova that became World Heritage by UNESCO on that date.

Palazzo Giorgio Centurione
Facade of the Palazzo Giorgio Centurione in via Lomellini 5
Map
General information
StatusIn use
TypePalace
Architectural styleMannerist
LocationGenoa, Italy
Address5, Lomellini
Coordinates44°24′45″N 8°55′46″E / 44.412383°N 8.929436°E / 44.412383; 8.929436
Current tenantshousing/offices
Construction started16th century
Completed16th century
Renovated19th century
Design and construction
Architect(s)Gaspare Corte
Part ofGenoa: Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli
CriteriaCultural: (ii)(iv)
Reference1211
Inscription2006 (30th Session)

History

edit

There is little information about the palace, which was built at the end of the 16th centuryprobably by the architect Gaspare Corte on the commission of Giorgio Centurione,[1] later Doge of the Republic of Genoa in 1621–1622. Giorgio Centurione's daughter, Virginia (1587—1651), later married to Gaspare Grimaldi Bracelli, founder of the order of the Sisters of Our Lady of Refuge in Monte Calvario, was sanctified by Pope John Paul II in 2003. Known as Saint Virginia Centurione Bracelli, she started out in the building in Via Lomellini as a caregiver for poor girls, which was later continued in the convent of Monte Calvario, while the congregation of nuns she founded under the protection of Emanuele Brignole, founder of the Grande Albergo dei Poveri, took the name «brignoline».[2]

The Doria family acquired it in the 18th century. Partially reconstructed in the 19th century (atrium and stairwell), it is currently joined to two other buildings behind it by a bridge over the closed vico del Leone and overlooking vico dell’Oro.[3]

Description

edit

The façade has a painted decoration with cornices framing the windows, semicircular tympanums, architraves with a false mezzanine and under-window mirrors. Portal doric marble with pilaster strips supporting a semicircular tympanum housing an Enthroned Madonna and Child (Queen of the city), while traces of abraded noble arms can be seen at the key of the arch.

Notes

edit
  1. ^ Proposal for the inscription of Genoa Le Strade Nuove and the System of the Palazzi dei Rolli in the Unesco World Heritage List, Volume I — Dossier, p. 250
  2. ^ Virginia Centurione Bracelli, Gianluigi and Riccardo Magaglio, Edisigma editore-Genova
  3. ^ Una reggia repubblicana, Atlante dei palazzi di Genova, Ennio Poleggi, Allemandi & C., Turin, 1998, p. 89
edit

  Media related to Palazzo Giorgio Centurione at Wikimedia Commons