Piazza Raffaele De Ferrari

Among the most important adjacent buildings are the famous Teatro Carlo Felice and the Doge's Palace, the former centre of power of the Republic of Genoa. Piazza Raffaele De Ferrari is a meeting place for locals and tourists alike. The Genoese affectionately call the square "Il cuore pulsante della città di Genova", i.e. the pulsating heart of the city of Genoa. That is why events take place here regularly.

Heart of the city

Located in the middle of the old town of Genoa, the Piazza is the central point of the Ligurian metropolis. It forms a traffic junction from which all other attractions of the city can be reached. But there is no way to talk about a pure transition place. In the middle of the Piazza Raffaele De Ferrari there is an impressive fountain that was built in 1936 by the architect Giuseppe Crosa di Vergagni, who came from Genoa. It is a popular meeting place for lovers and probably the most sought-after photo motif in the piazza.

The square's namesake is Raffaele Di Ferrari, a politician born in Genau. The scion of an aristocratic family acquired a name and great wealth in the 19th century. Thus, in 1838, at the behest of Pope Gregory XVI, he was appointed Duke of Galliera and was a senator in the Kingdom of Sardinia. Also in 1838, he was given the title of Prince of Lucedio by the Sardinian King Charles Albert. However, Ferrari acquired most of his enormous wealth at his residence in Paris.

Centre of culture and power

Given this background and the central location, it seems only too plausible that Piazza Raffaele De Ferrari is also home to Genoa's Doge's Palace. The Palazzo Ducale dates back to the 13th century and was the seat of the Doges, or heads of the city, during the period of the city's republic. In modern times, the house was used for different institutions. For example, it served as the Palace of Justice. In 2001, the G8 congress was held in the Doge's Palace under the direction of the Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi. Today, the palace serves mainly cultural purposes. Thus, on the Beletage of the building, exhibitions or concerts take place. In the inner courtyard there are also some shops and restaurants.

Cultural events of the extra class take place at the Piazza Raffaele De Ferrari also in the Teatro Carlo Felice. The opera house is considered one of the leading ones in Italy and regularly delights its visitors with operas, ballets and symphonies. Like most of the other buildings in the piazza, the opera house dates back to the 19th century. It was ceremoniously opened on April 7, 1828 with a performance of Vincenzo Bellini's opera "Bianca e Fernando". During the Second World War, the building was massively damaged by bomb hits. Today the interior has been completely redesigned. The exterior façade, however, could be restored. The reopening was celebrated in 1991 with Verdi's "Il trovatore". Thus the Piazza Raffaele De Ferrari is once again enriched by a highlight.