Palazzo Ducale, or Doge's Palace - a historic building in Genoa, which once was the residence of the rulers of the city, and today houses a museum. Here are a variety of cultural events and art exhibitions. The palace was built in the heart of Genoa: it has two entrances and, accordingly, two facades - one overlooks the Piazza Matteotti, a second Piazza Ferrari.

The first room of the Palazzo were built between 1251 and 1275 years in the heyday of the Republic of Genoa, and Torre Grimaldina, also known as the People's Tower, was built only in 1539. In 1992, on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America's most famous native of Genoa Christopher Columbus Doge's Palace has been restored.

Once at the site of the Palazzo was the house of an influential Genoese Doria kind and located next to the Church of San Mateo and San Lorenzo. After the government of Genoa bought the house and its surrounding buildings, began the construction of the palace. In 1294 it was attached to the tower Fieschi. The first restoration of the Palazzo was undertaken in the 1590s under the direction of Andrea Cherezola, and in the 17th century in the private chapel of the Doges were the frescoes by Giovanni Battista Carlone and Domenico Fiazella. Serious damage was caused to the structure during a fire in 1777, but the building was quickly restored and rebuilt in neo-classical style.

On the ground floor of the Palazzo - the so-called mezzanine - Today you can see the frescoed halls of the Greater and Lesser Council, which hosts various public events. In July 2001, the Doge's Palace hosted summit of the "Big Eight", which was attended by the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK, USA and Russia.