Art & History

In the beating heart of Genoa, overlooking the picturesque Porto Antico, stands the historic Palazzo Serra Gerace, now an elegant and charming residence housing Hotel De Ville. A place where the charm of ancient Genoa blends harmoniously with the elegance and liveliness of contemporary art.

The name of the palace stems from events in the mid-18th century. In fact, marrying in 1764 Maria Antonietta Grimaldi Oliva, the last heiress of the Princes of Gerace, G. Battista Serra acquired his wife's noble title, which would be juxtaposed with His surname from then on, giving rise to the SERRA GERACE branch.

600

Famiglia Serra Gerace

We have the earliest notions and news in which the Serra Gerace family lived at this palace.

800

Headquarters of the Hotel de la Ville

During the nineteenth century Palazzo Serra Gerace became the headquarters of the Hotel de la Ville.

1894

In 1894 the building was acquired by the Società d'Assicurazioni Italia, which will still keep it used as a hotel.

1899

Tommaso Marinetti

Later Tommaso Marinetti stayed at the Hotel de la Ville. In fact, when his father made him change universities, he moved from Pavia to Genoa, where he graduated in law in 1899. During his stay in Genoa Marinetti stayed at the Hotel de la Ville. From the hotel window he had before his eyes and in his ears the teeming noise of the uninterrupted activity of the port. Indeed, he wrote, "I drank in the fluctuating or intricate vision of ropes sails clouds transatlantic liners that incited me to poet more than to delve into Roman law.

Born on the pier called Janus were my first two books. Conquest of the Stars and Destruction. In another of his poems (La Ville Chamelle) he sang of the now-destroyed hovel of the ancient harbor that once mingled with sailing ships and cranes the people of the banks. He called Genoa << an American city, bustling with trade and resounding with workshops >>

1942

War Damage

In 1942, the facilities suffered severe war damage.

1950

War damage repair

In the 1950s , after the damage was repaired, the building was occupied by offices, professional offices and housing and is in a good state of preservation.

1976

Restoration work

In 1976, restoration work began by the Ministry of Culture and Environment, by the Superintendence of Architectural and Artistic Heritage.

1992

Colombiadi

Later acquired by the City of Genoa, the building was designated to host the Colombiadi '92 events. It was the seat of the Department and municipal offices at the 1992 Genoa International Specialized Exposition, the Cristoforo Colombo Regional Foundation, the Commissioner General of the Exposition, as well as the Ente Colombo 92 which is entrusted with the organization and realization of the World Exposition “Cristoforo Colombo: the ship and the sea.”

Inherent to this exposition is preserved and displayed at the reception of the Hotel de Ville one of the few posters of the time that was made for the 1992 exposition.

2017

Birth of HOTEL DE VILLE

Inside the hotel you can find other original vintage prints that can be found in the common areas and inside our rooms.
Among the most significant posters present you will be able to admire some posters depicting historical advertisements and posters inherent to the tourist industry
For this reason, since 2019 the bar and reception area have become part of the Museum of Tourism (www.themuseumoftourism.org) as room No. 16.