The Twin Curiosities of Genoa: The Palazzo Cattaneo Adorno - A Symmetry Tale

Situated on via Garibaldi, in the historic heart of Genoa, the Palazzo Cattaneo Adorno (also known as the Palazzo Spinola Lazzaro e Giacomo), numbers 8 and 10, is a cultural landmark. In 2006, this palazzo, inscribed in the Rolli di Genova, was bestowed World Heritage status by UNESCO. Constructed between 1583 and 1588, for cousins Lazzaro and Giacomo Spinola, this palace boasts an unique feature - absolute symmetry. This is evident in both the facades, the floor plan, and the gardens, as shown by surveys made by Rubens for the 1622 edition of the Palazzi di Genova.

By 1609, the western part (no. 10) had fallen into the hands of Filippo Adorno, and the Adorno family commissioned the interior decoration. The frescoed decoration, dated 1624 and the work of Lazzaro Tavarone, depicts the War exploits of Antoniotto Adorno, the ancestors' doge. Other rooms within the west wing showcase the Conquest of Jerusalem and the Deeds of Doge Antoniotto Adorno for the liberation of Pope Urban VI. The east wing passed through several hands, from the Saluzzo family in the 17th to the mid-19th century, to the Scassi, and finally to the Cattaneo. After the Cattaneo and Adorno families merged, the palace took its present name.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons