The Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority has announced the establishment of the Palazzo delle Compere di San Giorgio Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the conservation, promotion and enhancement of one of Genoa's leading historic landmarks.
Established by the Port Authority, the Foundation will be headquartered at Palazzo San Giorgio and will undertake to coordinate the preservation and public use of the building's exceptional historical, artistic and archival heritage.
Built in 1260 as the public civic seat of power of the Republic of Genoa, Palazzo San Giorgio, which overlooks the port, has long stood at the forefront of the city's international maritime, commercial and financial history. Over the centuries, it has accommodated the Casa delle Compere e del Banco di San Giorgio, one of Europe's earliest public banking institutions, and since 1903 has served as the headquarters of the Port Authority of Genoa, today the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority. The formation of the Foundation reinforces this enduring institutional legacy, whilst inaugurating a new chapter focused on research, public engagement and cultural dissemination.
The Foundation’s mission is to transform Palazzo San Giorgio into a permanent centre for cultural, scientific and educational initiatives, fostering a greater understanding, conservation and public appreciation of the site, whilst strengthening its position within Italy's broader cultural landscape. To achieve these objectives, it will form partnerships with public authorities, universities, cultural institutions and private organisations; organise exhibitions, conferences and public events; publish research and pursue funding opportunities at both a national and European level.
The Foundation is to be governed by a Board of Directors, appointed by the Port Authority, on the basis of professional expertise and gender balance. The Board is chaired by Giorgio Lamanna and comprises Giovanna Chilà, Edoardo Pesce, Paolo Pessina and Cristina Repetto. The Board of Statutory Auditors features Francesco Puliti and Alessandro Nadasi.
In addition, the Foundation's Statute provides for the establishment of a Scientific Committee, composed of distinguished academic and cultural figures, who will offer strategic guidance and expert advice in support of the activities. The organisation has been endowed with initial capital of €150,000 and, in due course, will welcome supporting members, encouraging the participation of public institutions, businesses and private stakeholders in its programmes.
Matteo Paroli, President of the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority, declared: "The establishment of the Foundation marks a strategic milestone that we identified as one of our key priorities from the outset of our mandate, and today that mission has become a reality. Palazzo San Giorgio is far more than one of Genoa's most iconic landmarks: for over seven-hundred years it has been the place where the history of the port, the city and its maritime trade have converged. It served as headquarters of institutions that played a strategic in the economic development of the Republic of Genoa and, since 1903, it has been home to the Port Authority responsible for the governance of the Port of Genoa. Our aim is to ensure the continuity of this remarkable legacy, by preserving its cultural, archival and artistic heritage, whilst opening it up to the wider community. Our ambition is to establish Palazzo San Giorgio as a unique centre for knowledge, research and dialogue, fostering collaboration with universities, cultural organisations and public institutions. It represents an investment in the future, firmly rooted in Genoa's rich maritime history and identity."
