The Grimaldi Palace of Genoa: A Haunted History and an Unexpected Rise

The Palazzo Gio Battista Grimaldi, standing on Piazza San Luca which has been around since 1188, is inextricably linked with the Grimaldi family, dating back to the 15th century. The first to bear the family name in the Genovese Rolls, Sen. Gio Battista Grimaldi, met his untimely end within its walls - specifically, viciously assassinated. The main façade, adorned with corbelled balconies, masks, a somber 17th-century portal, and three columns, is a testament to its rich history. Inside, the 16th-century atrium and loggia staircase reveal a story as old as the structure itself. A slate portal from the same century, a relic of access prior to the palace’s construction, still overlooks the narrow Vico della torre di San Luca. The palace, built upon medieval foundations, maintains some trace of its ancient past at the rear.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons