Galeazzo Alessi was a protagonist of the history of Italian architecture and art of the 16th century. Active in Genoa around the middle of the century, he left a permanent mark on the urban and architectural culture of the city. On the occasion of the anniversary of the fifth centenary of his birth, we present a sampling of the iconographic documentation preserved by the civic collections and dedicated to the main works created by Alessi during his stay in Genoa. Starting from the end of the 18th century, the Basilica of S. Maria Assunta in Carignano became one of the city symbols and an obligatory destination for the cultured travelers, thanks to his representation in a predominant position and to his very high artistic quality.
Galeazzo Alessi (Perugia, 1512-1572). Trained in an Umbrian humanistic environment, he moved to Rome (1536) where he was influenced by Bramante, Baldassarre Peruzzi, Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, but above all by Michelangelo. He came back to Perugia in 1542 where he worked on the renovation of the Paolina fortress, but in 1548 he moved to Genoa, where he lived for over a decade. Here he worked for the Sauli’s and other powerful families, building villas, gardens, churches and palaces. After 1567, finally, he returned to his hometown and remained there until his death in 1572.