PALAZZO DORIA, GENOA 



PLATES 17, 18 



the western outskirts of the city of Genoa, towards the suburb of Sanpier- 

 darena, stands the grand old palace that for generations has belonged to 

 the Doria family. It is built upon the site of the Palazzo Fregoso, presented 

 by the Genoese Senate to Pietro Campofregoso, who, in 1373, took Famagosta 

 from King Peter of Cyprus. The palace derives its present name from the 

 title granted by Charles V. to Andrea d' Oria, and was built about 1529 



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from the designs of the architect Montorsoli. The interior contains some 

 very handsome apartments, and the exquisite loggia painted by Pierino del Vaga. The casino 

 is now partly occupied as offices, and the whole place has during recent years been very sadly 

 allowed to fall into ruin. The stately marble water-approach from the sea, the gardens rising in 

 terrace above terrace upon the steep hillside; the courts and gay parterres have almost entirely 

 disappeared before the destroying hand of the speculative builder and railway engineer, whilst the 

 great docks of Italy's busiest port have robbed the gardens of all their beauty upon the sea-front. 

 Still the villa is interesting as a study in garden-planning, and from the survey in Plate 17, 

 made whilst it yet retained much of its charm, an idea may be obtained of the grand scale upon 

 which the garden was originally laid out. 



The palace, an oblong building stretching right across the site, was raised upon a platform 

 overlooking the parterres and sea beyond. In the midst of the parterre is a fine white marble 

 fountain with eagles surrounding the pool (Plate 18), with a large central group representing 

 Andrea d' Oria as Neptune, driving a spirited team of sea-horses, from whose nostrils the water 

 spouts forth ; in his hand he bears a raised trident. The fountain was erected by Taddeo, 

 Giuseppe and Raltista Carlone.' 



On the seashore a handsome marble terrace overhangs the garden and overlooks the port 

 where now huge ocean liners take the place of the famous admiral's gorgeous galleys. Here, 

 under the orange trees, was the scene of a great baiiquet given by Andrea d' Oria, when it is 

 related how the plate was renewed three times and after each course thrown into the sea. In the 

 centre of the terrace is a grotto whence subterranean passages led to the landing at the water's 



Here Andrea had his galleys anchored, whilst from the terrace above he could watch 



edge. 



1 II palazzo del Principe d' Oria in Geneva, di A. Merli e L. T. Belgraiio, Genova, 1874. 



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