Palazzo Durazzo-Pallavicini
Palazzo Durazzo-Pallavicini or Palazzo di Gio Agostino Balbi is a building on Via Balbi in the historic city centre of Genoa. On 13 July 2006 it became one of 42 palazzi included in the new Palazzi dei Rolli World Heritage Site. History Its architecture is thought of as being the link between the residential models of Strada Nuova and the compositional solutions of Via Balbi. It was designed by Bartolomeo Bianco for Gio. Agostino Balbi early in the 17th century, ably meeting the client's request for a traditional U-shaped floor plan despite the triangular plot of land available. A strong architectural element of the design is the nucleus of the diverging stairs on the courtyard, separated by a monumental staircase: a real path covered by the rooms on the mezzanine floor. Also typical of the architect is the use of the external spaces which are divided to the east and the west, allowing a gradual view of the hanging gardens along the road. The building was added to the Rollo of 1664 in the first Bussolo, the highest category, intended to host cardinals, princes, viceroys and governors. Financial problems forced the new owner, Bartolomeo Balbi, to rent out part of