Palazzo Clemente della Rovere

The Rolli of Genoa

The Rolli di Genova – or, more precisely, the Rolli degli alloggiamenti pubblici di Genova (Italian for "Lists of the public lodgings of Genoa") were the official lists at the time of the Republic of Genoa of the private palaces and mansions, belonging to the most distinguished Genoese families, which – if chosen through a public lottery – were obliged to host on behalf of the Government the most notable visitors during their State visit to the Republic. Later, these palaces hosted many famous visitors to Genoa during their Grand Tour, a cultural itinerary around Italy

History

The palace was commissioned in 1580 by Clemente della Rovere, a Genoese aristocrat from the distinguished Della Rovere family, which counted among its members two Popes (Sixtus IV and Julius II), the Duke of Urbino Francesco Maria I and the Genoese Doge Francesco Maria della Rovere. In the arts, the family reached the peak of their influence in the 15th century, when Pope Sixtus IV della Rovere commissioned the Sistine Chapel, and in the 16th century, when Pope Julius II della Rovere became known for his patronage of artists. In Genoa, the Doge Francesco Maria della Rovere was a fine collector of crystals, pottery and paintings, which he brought to the palace, where he retired after completing his term at the head of the Genoese Government.

The palace was built in an area between via San Sebastiano and Salita Santa Caterina, which is now in the center of the city but at the time was close to the 16th century walls and to religious buildings, where monks and nuns sought peace and tranquility. The construction of the palace proceeded at a fast pace and was completed in 1581, within two years from the start of the works. The palace was built as two separate wings, with one – the San Sebastiano wing – smaller and not in line with the main wing. This structure is still visible today, as the Palace has not undergone any major renovation since Rubens depicted it in the 17th century. On the right hand side of the Palace, there is a 17th-century statue of Our Lady of Mercy.

In the 19th century the palace passed to the Piccardo family. It currently hosts the Consulate of Iceland.