Today the school offered an accompanied tour of one of Genova’s fabled medieval palaces, Palazzo Spinola—quite a treat. Before my trip to Genoa, I had no idea about this city’s long and interesting history. So much of the central part of the city is well maintained and is delightful to walk around, even without a defined destination in mind.

The family Spinola were closely aligned with Spain, and I just yesterday saw a Van Dyke exhibition which contained a portrait of a 17th century Spinola who served the Spanish crown. I have also read that part of the reason that Genova was able to maintain its independence and power was that close alignment, as well as the diplomatic skills of its banking families. I am going to have to read up more on the city’s history, clearly.

The Hall of Mirrows brought to mind Versailles—of course, on a much smaller scale. After all this was the home of just one Genovese family and not the monarch of one of the most powerful countries in Europe. The family was also rich enough so that they could afford to own paintings by Van Dyke and Rubens as well as lots of other lesser artists.

The map below was printed in the early 17th century; clearly not much yet was known about the New World, but the coastal map of Africa is remarkably detailed. I just visited the Sea Museum, and comparing the 17th and 16th century world maps was enlightening—being the map nerd that I am.

Doesn’t everyone have a full sized fresco on their dining room ceiling? Other rooms were filled with the many china collections that the family owned over the centuries. This trip, I have also begun to notice the clocks and timepieces. The one below was particularly beautiful to my mind. Of course, like so many of the rich families during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, there’s always a spare cardinal or two; can you imagine carrying around this gold mass set and the people to set it up for you?

I have certainly become a booster for Genova since my arrival; it really provides a wide array of things to do, see and enjoy with a lot fewer other tourists to deal with than say Florence, Rome or Venice. Tomorrow I am planing on venturing out to a nearby seaside village that everyone tells me rivals Cinque Terre for charm. More to follow.