Museo Diocesano

The Diocesan Museum of Genoa is housed in the former residence of the canons of San Lorenzo Cathedral, which was built on Roman foundations and dates to the 12th century. You enter through the adjoining cloister, whose Romanesque arcades rest on paired columns with leaf capitals. In the 17th century, two sides of the building were remodeled, and the columns were replaced with massive pilasters to support additional floors. After a restoration funded by the Columbus Citizens Foundation, the museum opened its doors to the public in 2000.

The collection includes a diverse selection of artworks and historical objects from the Diocese of Genoa and the surrounding region. Visitors begin their tour in the underground rooms, where archaeological finds are on display, such as a bone comb from the 4th to 6th century and a fragment of a Roman sarcophagus. The tomb of Cardinal Luca Fieschi is also here. The upper floor traces the development of Ligurian painting from the 14th to the 16th century, with works by artists such as Barnaba da Modena, Cristoforo De' Mottis, and Luca Cambiaso.

The museum also presents important liturgical objects, including a woven antependium from Flanders, a silver urn, and a reliquary. The final section is devoted to Baroque art, in which religious commissions played a central role. Highlights include paintings by Domenico Fiasella and Gregorio de Ferrari, which document the spiritual and artistic development of the city.