Pinacoteca Civica (Municipal Art Gallery), Savona

The Municipal Art Gallery (Pinacoteca Civica) is housed in Palazzo Gavotti, an elegant 16th-century palace located in the city’s historic center. Built on the foundations of medieval structures, the palace was later modified in the 19th century, creating the refined space that now serves as one of Savona’s most important cultural institutions. With its two entrances opening onto the portico of Piazza Chabrol, the gallery spans two floors, offering visitors an impressive journey through centuries of artistic heritage.

The collection is particularly notable for its Renaissance masterpieces, including the extraordinary Crucifixion by Donato de' Bardi, a 15th-century work that represents a unique fusion of Flemish Ars Nova and Italian art. Visitors are welcomed by a striking polychrome wooden Crucifix and a marble bas-relief of the Madonna and Child, leading into the display of grand polyptychs such as the Pala Fornari by Vincenzo Foppa. These works highlight the artistic flourishing of Savona during the 15th and 16th centuries, a period greatly influenced by Pope Sixtus IV and Pope Julius II, both members of the Della Rovere family.

The collection also features 17th- and 18th-century Ligurian paintings, including mythological and religious works by renowned artists like Valerio Castello, Gioacchino Assereto, Giovanni Battista Carlone, Domenico Piola, Bartolomeo Guidobono, and Carlo Giuseppe Ratti.

Moving into the 19th century, the gallery showcases works by Nicolò Barabino and Giuseppe Frascheri, whose paintings embody the romantic and religious themes of the era. A particularly intriguing exhibit is Professor Renzo Mantero’s collection of icons, dedicated to the Gran Madre delle Tre Mani (Great Mother of Three Hands).