The Grimaldina Tower at the Palazzo Ducale in Genoa kicks off the summer season with a calendar of events designed to offer the public a new way to experience one of the most famous landmarks in the Ligurian capital. Following its recent reopening to the public, the medieval monument will host a series of events organized by Opera Laboratori as part of the AT THE TOP project, an initiative aimed at transforming the historic tower into a dynamic cultural space that combines historical heritage, education, entertainment, and the promotion of the city’s landscape. The program kicks off on Friday, July 18, with “Apericena al Tramonto – Golden Hour Aperitivo,” the first of a series of events that will guide visitors on a discovery of the tower during an unusual time of day, when the light of sunset makes the view of the city and the sea even more evocative.
The event will begin at 8:00 p.m. and offer participants the chance to enjoy an aperitif on the panoramic terrace, accompanied by lounge music, before heading to the top of the Grimaldina Tower to watch the sunset from one of the most spectacular vantage points in Genoa’s historic center. This event marks one of the first opportunities to experience the new tour route, which—thanks to recently completed restoration work—now allows visitors to access the panoramic terrace, which until recently was off-limits.
The program will continue from July 21 to 23 with “La Torre sotto le Stelle – Starry Night at the Top,” a three-evening series organized in collaboration with the Righi Astronomical Observatory, combining a tour of the monument with stargazing. Starting at 9:30 p.m., participants can choose between two different options. The first includes a guided tour of the tower accompaniedby stargazing, while the second also features an aperitif before the experience begins. The observations will be led by experts from the Righi Astronomical Observatory and will allow visitors to explore the summer sky from a prime vantage point in the heart of the city. Of course, these events are subject to favorable weather conditions, which are essential both for accessing the outdoor areas and for astronomical observation.
These two events mark the launch of the new AT THE TOP program, a project through which Opera Laboratori aims to showcase the Grimaldina Tower beyond the traditional museum visit. The goal is to transform the monument into a vibrant space capable of hosting cultural initiatives, educational experiences, and entertainment events, offering visitors ever-changing opportunities to rediscover one of the most iconic buildings in Genoa’s history.
The program comes just a few weeks after the Torre Grimaldina reopened to the public, made possible by a major restoration and enhancement project funded through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The project is part of the “Palazzo Ducale: Making the Palace Accessible to Make the City Accessible” initiative. The work involved both the interior and exterior spaces of the tower, restoring full functionality to a monument of extraordinary historical and architectural value. One of the most significant changes is the extension of the visitor route to the panoramic terrace, a space that had never before been open to the public.
To allow access to the top, a new metal staircase was constructed, designed to respect the building’s historical characteristics and carefully integrated into the Tower’s medieval architecture. This new structure now allows visitors to reach a previously unseen vantage point from which to view the historic center, the harbor, and the sea—landmarks that have always defined Genoa’s landscape.
The enhancement project was not limited to structural aspects. The work also focused on improving the overall visitor experience through the introduction of new features dedicated to accessibility and public services. Among the new features are an online reservation system, a revamped website, and updated signage—all designed to make the visit simpler, more inclusive, and accessible to an ever-wider audience.
The Grimaldina Tower represents the medieval heart of the Palazzo Ducale and is one of the most recognizable symbols of Genoa’s history. Its origins date back to the late 13th century, when it was built as the central element of the complex that would, over the centuries, become the main center of political power for the Republic of Genoa. Also known as the “Torre del Popolo” (People’s Tower), it has served various functions throughout its long history, playing a fundamental role in the life of the city. On the one hand, it served as the city’s bell tower, its chimes marking the daily rhythm of Genoese life; on the other, it was used as a prison for political prisoners, rebels, and notable inmates.
Among the most famous names to have been imprisoned there is Niccolò Paganini. The great violinist spent a period of detention in the Tower, which helped make an already significant part of the city’s collective memory even more famous. The ancient cells still preserve numerous traces of the past. Graffiti, engravings, and inscriptions left by the prisoners recount the personal stories of those who were imprisoned there over the centuries, offering visitors a firsthand account of the city’s history and the political events that shaped its evolution.
The opportunity to visit these spaces—now integrated with the new route leading up to the panoramic terrace—allows visitors to journey through centuries of history in a single itinerary, where the monumental aspect intertwines with the human dimension and the discovery of the urban landscape.
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| Genoa: This Summer, the Grimaldina Tower at the Palazzo Ducale Will Host Aperitif Events |
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