Noble palace · 17th–18th century · Genoa

Grimaldi Palace of the Meridiana

The Palazzo Grimaldi della Meridiana is a noble Genoese palace situated in the upper historic centre of Genoa, named after the Grimaldi family — one of the most powerful dynasties in the Republic of Genoa — and for a meridian line (meridiana) once installed in the building for astronomical observation. Built primarily in the 17th and 18th centuries, it is a refined example of Genoese aristocratic architecture, characterised by monumental staircases, frescoed halls, and formal gardens that were central to the patrician culture of the Republic.

At a glance

Type: Patrician palace (palazzo nobiliare)
Period: 17th–18th century
Style: Genoese Baroque and Neoclassical
Patron: Grimaldi family, Republic of Genoa
Location: Genoa, Liguria
Coordinates: 44.4117° N, 8.9293° E

Overview

Genoa’s historic centre contains one of the densest concentrations of Renaissance and Baroque palaces in the world, recognised since 2006 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (the Strade Nuove and Palazzi dei Rolli system). The Palazzo Grimaldi della Meridiana, while not among the original Rolli palaces, reflects the same tradition of patrician display and theatrical interior design. The Grimaldi name recurs throughout Genoese and European history — the same dynasty rules Monaco today — and this palace is a physical record of their centuries of local prominence.

History

The Grimaldi were among the oldest and most influential families of the Republic of Genoa, with documented presence in the city from the 12th century. The present building took its main form during the 17th century, when Genoese banking wealth was at its peak and noble families competed to erect palaces that rivalled those of Rome and Versailles. A meridian line — a solar observation instrument traced on the floor to mark the passage of true noon — was incorporated into the building, giving it the distinctive epithet “della Meridiana.” Later 18th-century interventions added Neoclassical elements to the original Baroque fabric.

What you see

The palace presents an imposing stone façade on the Genoese hillside, with a monumental entrance portal opening onto a colonnaded atrium typical of the city’s great seventeenth-century residences. The piano nobile contains frescoed reception rooms with stucco decoration, painted vaulted ceilings, and period furnishings reflecting the tastes of the Genoese aristocracy. The terraced garden, laid out in the Ligurian tradition of narrow terraces facing the sea, frames views of the city and port below.

Cultural significance

The palazzo embodies the economic and cultural golden age of the Genoese Republic, when Ligurian banker-merchants financed the Spanish Crown and funded an explosion of architectural patronage that transformed the city. The meridian installation also points to the intersection of scientific curiosity and aristocratic culture characteristic of 17th-century Italy.

Practical information

Address: Genoa (Genova), Liguria, Italy
Hours: Check official website or Genoa tourism office for current access arrangements
Admission: Check official website

Getting there

The Genoese historic centre is best reached from Genova Brignole or Genova Piazza Principe railway stations, both served by frequent Trenitalia services from Milan, Turin, and the Ligurian coast. The city centre is a UNESCO-listed pedestrian zone; approach on foot via the historic caruggi (narrow lanes). Several bus lines (AMT) connect the upper historic centre with the waterfront and main stations. Limited ZTL-exempt parking is available on the upper historic zone perimeter.

Sources & resources

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Historical events at this place (1)

2024 World Tourism Event 2024

Grimaldi Palace of the Meridiana&nbsp;was built by&nbsp;Gerolamo Grimaldi Oliva&nbsp;(1493-1557), a Genoese banker between 1541 and 1545; the main access was on the San Francesco climb. Neither the route nor the buildings of Strada Nuova (now Via Garibaldi) existed yet.



Gerolamo Grimaldi left the Palace to his son, Battista, who completed the internal decoration of the palace with interventions by Bergamasco, Luca Cambiaso, Perolli, Lazzaro Calvi and Gi&ograve; Batta Castello; in the same years the north fa&ccedil;ade was frescoed with &quot;Labours of Hercules&quot; (Aurelio Busso). In that period the route of &quot;Strada Nuova&quot; was traced and the sumptuous buildings that crown it began to be built.



Subsequently (1778 &ndash; 1786) &ldquo;Strada Nuovissima&rdquo; (today Via Cairoli) was opened: the Piazza (today Piazza della Meridiana) was created in connection with &ldquo;Strada Nuova&rdquo;. The south fa&ccedil;ade of the Palace was thus renovated based on a design by Giacomo Brusco. The square thus took the name of &quot;Piazza della Meridiana&quot; for the beautiful sundial that was built on the facade of Palazzo Grimaldi.



Numerous changes of ownership occurred in the 19th century, from the&nbsp;Grimaldi di Geraci&nbsp;to the&nbsp;Serra di Cassano, to the&nbsp;Odero, to the&nbsp;De Mari&nbsp;and to the&nbsp;Mongiardino. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Mackenzie family rented the Palazzo from the Mongiardino family and commissioned the architect Gino Copped&egrave; to adapt it to house their offices. On this occasion, in addition to new constructions in the rear garden area, the internal courtyard was covered with an Art Nouveau skylight, the &quot;grotesques&quot; of its vaults were renewed and the internal decoration was carried out in the staircase, in the atrium and in the hall. Cambiaso.



During the First World War it was the site of a&nbsp;military hospital.

Since the 1950s, the building has been used as offices for the Municipality of Genoa, until 2004.

The building was purchased in 2004 by the company&nbsp;Palazzo Meridiana srl&nbsp;(Gruppo Viziano), which financed and oversaw the complete and philological conservative restoration, reopening these spectacular environments with a new, more modern logic, which combines the museum aspect with Use for events and receptions, residential and commercial purposes.

The first partial reopening of the building took place in 2010 for the&nbsp;FAI days.



Since July 2011, the Palace has also hosted exhibitions: on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy, the Liguria Region section of the Venice Biennale was hosted.

In July 2006 the 42 Palazzi dei Rolli of Genoa - of which Palazzo Grimaldi della Meridiana is part - were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

https://culturalheritageonline.com/places/grimaldi-palace-of-the-meridiana-l3438/

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