Palazzo San Giorgio

The Palazzo San Giorgio, in Genoa

The Palazzo San Giorgio is one of the most important historic buildings of Genoa, standing near the old port, with its façade adorned with trompe-l'œil frescoes. The Genoa audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this building of 1260, become a prison where Marco Polo was incarcerated, who dictated there his travel memoirs, then customs office and one of the first banks of Italy.

History

In the crossing of the port of Genoa, one monument cannot be missed: the Palazzo San Giorgio, for its size, its history and its appearance. The building appeared in 1260 at the request of Guglielmo Boccanegra, the uncle of the first Doge of the Republic of Genoa, who wanted to give his city a civil building as powerful as the cathedral San Lorenzo, very close to the port. From 1262, the address had of a palace only the name, for it was reconverted into a prison: a certain Marco Polo counted there among the residents. Incarcerated following a naval battle opposing Venice to Genoa, the famous Venetian merchant dictated there to one of his cellmates his travel memoirs, which composed later one of his illustrious works, the Description of the World, also known as the Book of Marvels. From 1340, the Palazzo San Giorgio became the seat of the customs office, then of one of the first banks of Italy. It was necessary to wait for the sixteenth century to see appear the trompe-l'œil frescoes realised by the artist Lazzaro Tavarone, that still adorn today its façade.

What to see

Here you admire a building of 1260 standing near the old port, willed as powerful as the cathedral, in turn prison where Marco Polo dictated his travel memoirs, customs office and one of the first banks of Italy; its façade is adorned with trompe-l'œil frescoes of the sixteenth century. The Palazzo San Giorgio is a major witness of the history of Genoa. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Palazzo San Giorgio stands facing the Porto Antico, at the foot of the historic centre of Genoa, reachable on foot. You admire its façade adorned with frescoes from the quays; the building, partly administrative, follows conditions of access that vary. You discover it during a walk along the port.

What famous figure was imprisoned at the Palazzo San Giorgio of Genoa?

The Venetian merchant Marco Polo was incarcerated there following a naval battle between Venice and Genoa; it is in this former prison, become then customs office then one of the first banks of Italy, that he dictated to a cellmate his travel memoirs, the future Description of the World, or Book of Marvels.

Where is the Palazzo San Giorgio in Genoa?

Facing the Porto Antico, at the foot of the historic centre of Genoa, in Italy.