Palazzo Foundation makes its debut: new light on Genoa's most important Renaissance heritage, now a place of culture, dialogue and inclusion for the community
Palazzo Foundation makes its debut: new light on Genoa's most important Renaissance heritage, now a place of culture, dialogue and inclusion for the community
With Palazzo Foundation, Lockton P. L. Ferrari promotes Villa Pallavicino delle Peschiere as a new pole of interest for tourists, scholars and lovers of classical and contemporary art from all backgrounds, with a focus on education as well.
Genoa, 2 April 2025 – Palazzo Foundation, the new Third Sector Entity set up by the insurance broker Lockton P. L. Ferrari, was presented today with the aim of promoting the recovery and development of the cultural vocation of the monumental complex of Villa Pallavicino delle Peschiere, identifying and enhancing the activities that can promote inclusion and sustainability to give new identity to the city and national cultural landscape.
"The creation of Palazzo Foundation represents a concrete act of giving back to the community a vital fragment of its historical and social identity," says President Filippo Fabbri, "since Villa Pallavicino delle Peschiere, despite being one of the symbols of Genoa as well as one of the most beautiful Renaissance villas in Italy, has always been a little-known place and until now privately guarded. We want to take care of this cultural and architectural heritage, for ourselves and for the new generations, opening the gates to the public, creating virtuous initiatives of dialogue between citizens, the academic world and the public and private sectors, while creating synergies and new values. Palazzo Foundation intends to leverage culture as a driver of economic growth and as a resource for the entire community. This recovery and enhancement project will contribute not only to the preservation of the artistic heritage, but also to the revival of the territory and its opportunities. We will pursue it with the will and determination that characterizes our group."
The protection and enhancement of Villa Pallavicino delle Peschiere represent the main objectives of the foundation which was born with the mission of preserving the historical, artistic, architectural and landscape heritage of one of the most iconic places of Renaissance culture in Liguria. Numerous illustrious personalities have left testimony of their admiration, among them the Flemish artist Pieter Paul Rubens, who engraved the image of Villa delle Peschiere for the volume Palazzi di Genova published in Antwerp in 1622, and the British writer Charles Dickens, who stayed here in 1844, concluding the writing of the novel Le Campane.
Palazzo Foundation has the ambitious goal of restoring and restoring the Pallavicino Grotto, with its precious multi-material decorations, which still make this place one of the most amazing artificial garden grottoes built in the sixteenth century.
Furthermore, for Palazzo Foundation, opening the doors of Villa Pallavicino delle Peschiere can represent an engine for the development of the cultural economy of the city and the entire territory. With the help of partners and the collaboration of the main local institutions active in the field of the enhancement of the historical and artistic heritage, the Foundation intends to make the Grotto and the other treasures of Villa delle Peschiere a hub of attraction for tourists, scholars and art lovers and a cultural reference point of national and international importance.
The Foundation intends to pursue its main objectives also through the development of the following actions:
- Study and promotion of the artistic, cultural and architectural heritage, through the restitution of knowledge of Villa Pallavicino delle Peschiere and the Renaissance civilization in Liguria.
- Events and public engagement, thanks to the promotion of cultural events, exhibitions, concerts, seminars, conferences, university and post-graduate training activities - such as the training course of the University of Genoa, d:cult (https://dcult-ianua.it) -, workshops, initiatives of social utility and solidarity in the cultural field. Relationships, in particular with universities, are not only a tool for research and heritage enhancement, but also a concrete opportunity for the placement of young professionals in the field of humanities. This applies both to the talents of the Genoese territory and to the attraction of young minds at an international level, who can find in Villa Pallavicino delle Peschiere a context of excellence for their professional growth.
The role of contemporary art and guided tours
The Foundation intends to cultivate dialogue with the actors of the contemporary art world, from which it is possible to borrow solutions for the enhancement of the historical heritage that qualifies Villa delle Peschiere, interpreting it with languages and expressions in step with the times. Opening the stately rooms and the park of this monumental complex to works, installations, performances and activities designed in collaboration with artists, galleries, museums and collectors is one of the strategic objectives of Palazzo Foundation, with the aim of addressing not only lovers of ancient art, but also fans of the twentieth century and contemporary art. To this end, on the occasion of the launch of Palazzo Foundation, a first important collaboration is presented with Pinksummer Contemporary Art, a leading gallery on the national scene based in Genoa, thanks to which three works by Tomás Saraceno, one of the most famous living artists, have been installed in the park of the Villa. Saraceno's works, one of which has never been presented in Italy to date, come from the Web(s) of Life exhibition held at the Serpentine Gallery in London in 2023, and reflect on the delicate theme of the relationship between human beings and other animal species living in nature. In this circumstance, the garden of the Villa becomes a privileged space in which sculptures can implement their function as works of art and at the same time as homes for animals, paying homage to the values of sustainability that inspire the mission of Palazzo Foundation.
During 2025, Villa delle Peschiere will also host the first solo exhibition in Italy dedicated to the work of James Hawke, a British painter who conquered the European market with his lively canvases populated by characters inspired by holidays in the Mediterranean. Also scheduled is a cycle of performances of the Opera in Villa which has received the patronage of RAI Liguria and which begins on April 11 with Madama Butterfly, with free access to the inaugural event subject to availability of seats. For how to participate in all events, visits and guided tours, reservations are required at info@palazzo-foundation.org. Updates on the event program and insights www.palazzo-foundation.org.
The complete press kit is available at the link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14N2HqQsExGq93ODdVOxWzzggh0_E85vB
Palazzo Foundation ETS is the foundation established by the insurance broker Lockton P.L. Ferrari to promote the recovery and development of the cultural vocation of the monumental complex of Villa Pallavicino delle Peschiere in Genoa where the company has its headquarters. The calendar of events, how to access the visits, including guided tours, and further information are available on www.palazzo-foundation.org
PRESS INFORMATION
ALTRA PAGINA
Katia Piraccini mob. 338 7785479 k.piraccini@altrapagina.com
Maria Giovanna Arena mob. 339 6360370 mg.arena@altrapagina.com
Via Vincenzo Monti, 8 - 20123 Milano – www.altrapagina.com
