The loggia

The loggia

The loggia
At a glance

The loggia is composed of an internal rectangular body, from which the second floor can be accessed, and two side loggias. The wall decorations of the loggias are composed of small white, green and black square tiles.

Yellow and white fresco paintings begin where the tiles end, edged by a frieze with the coats of arms of the noble families of Genoa and the notables of the Bank.

Slate benches are placed along the side loggias. The ceiling is made of wooden beams. The loggia houses some of the most valuable works of the Palace, which are listed and described below.

In the discovery of the loggia
The statues

Our Lady Queen of Genoa

The statue of the Our Lady Queen of Genoa was sculpted in the first half of the 17th century by Bernardo Carlone.The sculpture, initially placed on the "Porta del Mare" (“Sea Gate”) or “Porta della Lanterna” ("Lantern Gate"), had become a reference point for seafarers.

Following the damage caused by the Second World War bombings, it was restored in 1952 and placed at the base of the Pilots Tower during a solemn coronation ceremony, which was very important for Genoa.

In 1998, following the relocation of the pilots to the new structure in Molo Giano (which tragically fell in the 2013 accident), it was decided to place the statue inside Palazzo San Giorgio in order to preserve it from damage caused by salt and atmospheric agents.

In the discovery of the loggia
 The plaques

Two plaques are found on the wall, next to the painting of Saint George on foot. The first was taken from the Castle of Lerici (1251) and therefore Pisa, while the second (1632) admonishes the Bank's officials not to take any bonuses on top of taxes, as does the plaque placed at the back entrance to the Palace.
The Castle of Lerici is a polygonal fortification that dominates the rocky promontory of the bay of Lerici, in the province of La Spezia. Construction of the castle began in 1152 and was subjected to numerous transformations by the maritime republics of Genoa and Pisa, which, due to its strategic position, fought over it.

On the lintel of the black stone portal on the back of the Loggia, you can read the words "Officium MDXXXI instauravit”.

In the second loggia on the left, there are the same decorative motifs as the walls and ceiling, and portals with the coat of arms of Genoa, which date back to the 16th-century restoration. The door frames with the coat of arms of Genoa and Saint George in the style of Michele D'Aria date back to the end of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century.

In the Loggia, there is also a bronze plaque commemorating the harbour workers who died during the First World War.

The “lettere orbe” boxes

To the right, beneath the first loggia, are the niches for the “Avisi per Magistrato del Sale” (Notices for the Salt Magistrate), “Avisi per Magistrati del 1444” (Notices for the Magistrates of 1444), “Avisi per Magistrato de Procuratori” (Notices for the Magistrate of Procurators), “Avisi per Protettori” (Notices for Protectors), “Avisi per Magistrato de Revisori” (Notices for the Magistrate of Auditors), and the plaque concerning the transfer of various duties (18th century).

The letter boxes were used to post “lettere orbe”, that is to say, anonymous reports concerning the disservices of the Bank of Saint George.

In the discovery of the loggia
 The paintings

Saint George on foot – Derived from an example of Aosta Valley painting from the Castle of Fenis and complemented by two verses by Carducci, made during the restoration carried out by Alfredo D'Andrade.

Giosuè Carducci (1835-1907) was a classicist poet and politician par excellence. He authored six poetry collections: Rime, Poesie, Odi barbare, Giambi ed epodi, Rime Nuove, Rime e ritmi.
In 1906, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature. The poet strenuously advocated the preservation of Palazzo San Giorgio, which some wanted to be demolished due to the fact that it was an obstacle to the development of the Genoese road system from west to east.

Saint George – 16th-century marble relief depicting Saint George defeating the dragon.

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Contact:

Ufficio Relazioni con il Pubblico – URP
Palazzo San Giorgio
Via della Mercanzia, 2
16124 Genova

Tel. +39 010 2411
+39 010 241 2330
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