Palazzo San Giorgio
Encyclopedia
The Palazzo San Giorgio or Palace of St. George (also known as the Palazzo delle Compere di San Giorgio) is a palace
in Genoa, Italy. It is situated in the Piazza Caricamento.
The palace was built in 1260 by Guglielmo Boccanegra, uncle of Simone Boccanegra
, the first Doge of Genoa
. For the construction of the new palace, materials were used from the demolition of the Venetian
embassy in Constantinople
, having been obtained from Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII as a reward for Genoese aid against the Latin Empire
. Stone lions, the emblem of Venice's patron St Mark were displayed as trophies on the facade by her bitter rival, the Republic of Genoa
. The palace was intended — through the creation of a civil-political center — to separate and elevate the temporal power of the Republic's]] government from the religious power of the clergy, centered on the Cathedral of San Lorenzo.
In 1262, Guglielmo Boccanegra was deposed and forced into exile. The palace was used for a time as a prison
; Marco Polo
was its most famous resident and it was there that he dictated his memoirs to Rustichello of Pisa.
In the 15th century, the palace became home to the Bank of Saint George
.
Palace
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome. In many parts of Europe, the...
in Genoa, Italy. It is situated in the Piazza Caricamento.
The palace was built in 1260 by Guglielmo Boccanegra, uncle of Simone Boccanegra
Simone Boccanegra
Simone Boccanegra was the first doge of Genoa. His story was popularized by Antonio García Gutiérrez's 1843 play Simón Bocanegra and Giuseppe Verdi's 1857 opera Simon Boccanegra. Note the spellings....
, the first Doge of Genoa
Doge of Genoa
The Republic of Genoa, in what is now northern Italy, was technically a communal republic in the early Middle Ages, although it was actually an oligarchy ruled by a small group of merchant families, from whom were selected the Doges of Genoa.- History :...
. For the construction of the new palace, materials were used from the demolition of the Venetian
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
embassy in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, having been obtained from Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII as a reward for Genoese aid against the Latin Empire
Latin Empire
The Latin Empire or Latin Empire of Constantinople is the name given by historians to the feudal Crusader state founded by the leaders of the Fourth Crusade on lands captured from the Byzantine Empire. It was established after the capture of Constantinople in 1204 and lasted until 1261...
. Stone lions, the emblem of Venice's patron St Mark were displayed as trophies on the facade by her bitter rival, the Republic of Genoa
Republic of Genoa
The Most Serene Republic of Genoa |Ligurian]]: Repúbrica de Zêna) was an independent state from 1005 to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast, as well as Corsica from 1347 to 1768, and numerous other territories throughout the Mediterranean....
. The palace was intended — through the creation of a civil-political center — to separate and elevate the temporal power of the Republic's]] government from the religious power of the clergy, centered on the Cathedral of San Lorenzo.
In 1262, Guglielmo Boccanegra was deposed and forced into exile. The palace was used for a time as a prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
; Marco Polo
Marco Polo
Marco Polo was a Venetian merchant traveler from the Venetian Republic whose travels are recorded in Il Milione, a book which did much to introduce Europeans to Central Asia and China. He learned about trading whilst his father and uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo, travelled through Asia and apparently...
was its most famous resident and it was there that he dictated his memoirs to Rustichello of Pisa.
In the 15th century, the palace became home to the Bank of Saint George
Bank of Saint George (Genoa)
The Bank or Company of Saint George was a financial institution of the Republic of Genoa. Founded in 1407, it was one of the oldest chartered banks in Europe, if not the world...
.
Sources
- Giuseppe Felloni - Guido Laura Genova e la storia della finanza: una serie di primati?" 9 November 2004, ISBN 88-87822-16-6
External links
- Official website
- 360° interactive high resolution panoramic photographs of the interiors of Palazzo San Giorgio — photographs by Hans von Weissenfluh