Palazzo del Principe

	The history
	The destruction in XX century
	The present decay
	Virtual 3D reconstruction of the Loggia

The destruction in the XX century

Up to the end of the nineteenth century, the structure of the Loggia constructed in 1581 remained substantially unaltered. In the XX century begins a period of progressive decay. In the first decades of the century the Loggia was turned into the seat of a commercial activity: to adapt it to its new and unsuitable function, all the arches of the arcade were blocked up, the central balcony was destroyed and the entrance onto the public road heavily reconstructed.

The subsequent opening of the fast-flow road in front of the palace (Via Adua) had a series of negative effects on the Loggia. It was publicly expropriated, and underwent works which damaged it very seriously. If the picture of the Loggia at the end of works in 1936 is compared with the nineteenth-century photograph of the still whole structure, we can see that the depth of the structure was radically altered.

Of the four lateral bays, in fact, only the most external one survives in its original condition. The difference in level with the road has diminished and with it every trace of the entrance portal has disappeared: there is no access to the building from the south side.

In the course of the works, the arches of the arcade, walled up at the beginning of the century, were reopened. The operation was part of the works carried out in the Fascist period with the purpose of resolving the complex traffic problems of Genoa, often by way of sacrificing ancient quarters and important monuments.

The Loggia closed up.

The Loggia in the first decades of XX century.

The Loggia opened up.

The Loggia in 1936.