by Redazione 18/10/2026
Categories: News / Disclaimer
A manuscript from 1790, recognized by the Ministry of Culture as being of extraordinary historical and scientific value, has been added to the collections of the Historical Archives of the City of Genoa. The document traces the route of the 17th-century city walls and lists the lands expropriated for their construction.
The Historical Archives of the City of Genoa have been enriched by a manuscript of great importance for reconstructing the city’s urban transformations between the 17th and 18th centuries. The City Council, upon the recommendation of the Councilor for Culture, Giacomo Montanari, has accepted the donation of a document by Giacomo Brusco titled *Delineation of the New Walls of Genoa*, which details all the land purchased by the government for the construction of those walls in 1631 and 1632.
Dated 1790, the manuscript has been recognized by the Ministry of Culture as a document of exceptional historical and scientific interest. The author states that he transcribed an original document —currently unknown—drafted by Sebastiano Ponzello. The text includes a plan of the 17th-century walls and a detailed list of the properties expropriated to allow for their construction, which took place between 1626 and 1633. It is precisely the absence of the original that makes Brusco’s manuscript a particularly valuable documentary source, essential for deepening our understanding of the urban and architectural transformations that took place in Genoa during that period. The plan and the list of properties, in fact, provide valuable insight into how the city’s defensive system was constructed.
Preserved in excellent condition, the document will become part of the collection of the Historical Archives of the City of Genoa, established in 1906 with the aim of preserving, protecting, and promoting the city’s administrative and historical heritage.
“We welcome with deep gratitude and great pride this donation from a generous Genoese citizen who wishes to remain anonymous, to whom the entire administration extends its sincere thanks,” stated Giacomo Montanari, Councilor for Culture. “This manuscript by Giacomo Brusco is not only a work of rare beauty and documentary value, but it represents a true missing piece in the reconstruction of Genoa’s urban history. As a copy of an original by Sebastiano Ponzello—which is now lost—the document offers us a unique and detailed glimpse into the construction site of the 17th-century city walls and the land acquired by the government for their construction, in the very year marking the 400th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone. The addition of this artifact to our Historical Archive fully aligns with the institutional mission of our museums and archives: to preserve, study, and make the memory of our city accessible to all. It demonstrates how collaboration between citizens and institutions can continue to enrich the public cultural heritage for the benefit of present and future generations. “Soon, subject to conservation requirements, the entire city will be able to view this one-of-a-kind volume on public display.”
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| Genoa: The Historical Archives Acquire a Valuable Manuscript on the 17th-Century City Walls |
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