Albergo dei Poveri

The Albergo dei Poveri (literally "Hostel of the Poor") is a historic charitable institution and monumental building complex in Genoa, Italy. Founded in 1652 by the nobleman Emanuele Brignole, it was created to provide shelter, food, and education to the city's poorest inhabitants. The building, located on Piazza Emanuele Brignole in the Castelletto hill district, is one of the largest and most significant examples of 17th-century charitable architecture in Italy. Its quadrilateral plan, long façade with two advanced lateral bodies and a central section, and the church dedicated to the Immaculate Conception surrounded by four large internal courtyards, make it resemble a palace more than a hospice. Over its more than 360 years of history, the Albergo dei Poveri has accumulated a remarkable collection of paintings, sculptures, and furnishings, including works by Domenico Piola and Pierre Puget. The institution has also served various purposes over the centuries, including temporarily housing the treasury of San Lorenzo and the ashes of St. John the Baptist after the French naval bombardment of 1684. In the late 20th century, it adapted to modern needs by providing assistance to the elderly, and parts of the building have been used by the University of Genoa. Today, the Albergo dei Poveri operates under the ASP Emanuele Brignole, an entity that since 2001 has brought together several historic charitable organizations of Genoa, including the Istituto di ricovero Emanuele Brignole, Scaniglia Tubino, Istituto Doria di Genova, and Istituto S. Raffaele di Coronata. The organization manages modern residential health-care facilities (RSA) while preserving the historic complex and its artistic heritage. The official website serves as a portal for its history, art, and cultural activities.

The Albergo dei Poveri was founded in Genoa in 1652 at the request of Emanuele Brignole, a Genoese nobleman who, together with Oberto della Torre, was chosen by the Republic of Genoa to supervise the construction of a new shelter for the city's poor. The original design is attributed to the architect Stefano Scaniglia di Sampierdarena, who, with Giovanni Battista Ghiso, adapted the building to the morphological characteristics of the terrain between the slopes of Monte Galletto and the hill of Carbonara. Four years after the start of construction, in 1656, work was suspended due to a violent plague epidemic that decimated the population of Genoa and neighboring villages. Only a spontaneous donation from Brignole himself—reportedly around 100,000 lire at the time—allowed the works to resume. The building was expanded several times over the following centuries, notably in 1667, 1689, and 1702, and it was only in 1835 that it took on its current appearance. In the 19th century, access roads were built through the vast garden of the palace. Especially in the early years of construction, the hostel was used for other purposes, particularly after the naval bombardment by the French fleet in 1684. Representatives of the Genoese Republic took refuge there, temporarily transferring ancient and precious public assets such as the treasury of San Lorenzo and the ashes of St. John the Baptist inside the building. In the last decade of the 20th century, the building received a more modern purpose, thanks to the birth of a new type of assistance for the elderly in need. For some years, classrooms and offices of various faculties of the University of Genoa were present in the eastern wing of the building. In 2001, an agreement between local authorities, the institutions involved, and social partners led to the creation of a single entity, ASP Emanuele Brignole, which brought together several historic charitable organizations of Genoa: the Albergo dei Poveri, Istituto di ricovero Emanuele Brignole, Scaniglia Tubino, Istituto Doria di Genova, and Istituto S. Raffaele di Coronata. This merger initiated a complex harmonization process due to the different organizational cultures and working methods of the founding entities. The renewal of activities, in compliance with regional and national regulations on residential assistance, required a total building requalification, including the decentralization of services from large historic buildings—unsuitable for such care—to modern residential health-care facilities (RSA) more in line with new structural, organizational, and safety standards.

• 2001

  Agreement signed to merge several charitable entities into ASP Emanuele Brignole.

• 1835

  The building takes on its current appearance.

• 1689

  Further expansion of the building.

• 1684

  After French naval bombardment, the building temporarily housed the treasury of San Lorenzo and the ashes of St. John the Baptist.

• 1667

  One of several expansions of the building.

• 1656

  Construction suspended due to a plague epidemic; resumed thanks to a donation from Brignole.

• 1652

  Foundation of the Albergo dei Poveri in Genoa by Emanuele Brignole.

Historic charitable institution and cultural heritage site, now a modern social assistance provider.

• Residential health-care facilities (RSA)

  Modern facilities for elderly care, replacing the historic large buildings.

• Art collection

  Paintings, sculptures, and furnishings from various Italian and European schools.

1. 1Albergo dei Poveri di Genova | Sito ufficialealbergodeipoveri.com
2. 2Chi siamo - Albergo dei Poverialbergodeipoveri.com
3. 3Wikidata: Albergo dei Poveriwikidata.org
4. 4Wikipedia (FR): Albergo dei Poveri (Gênes)fr.wikipedia.org