Villa Genoese Zerbi

Historic building from the early 1900s, built after the 1908 earthquake, and characterized by the unique architectural style of the city. Despite its beauty, it is impossible to give it a higher grade due to the precarious conditions in which it works: crumbling balustrades, exposed iron armor, a garden reduced to a forest. In the recent past it has hosted several artistic initiatives of undoubted value, such as art, architecture and fashion exhibitions, from Salvador Dalì to Gianni Versace, except for the grotesque expiring being used as a venue for a poker tournament.

It belonged to the family of the "Governor" Genoese Zerbi, the theorist of the "Great Reggio" who in 1927 brought together fourteen municipalities in the suburbs to the city. The palace dates back to 1925, and was built on the area where the ancient villa of the Zerbi family stood before 1860, on Venetian models of the century. XIV, with Gothic arches. Of elegant and extraordinary beauty, it has become a permanent location for events of high artistic and cultural depth, hosting prestigious contemporary art exhibitions, as well as appreciated sections of the Venice Biennale. The architectonic of the Villa recalls the forms and stylistic features of the Venetian Middle Ages, with references to the Renaissance and nineteenth-century styles. A daring mix of styles, therefore, made even more interesting by an accurate refinement and richness of details both of the exterior and interior of the building. The façade is defined by fairly bright chromatic contrasts and by the play of light and shadow obtained through surfaces that alternate the plaster with the exposed bricks, large loggias, typically Gothic pointed arches, tower elements and columns used for the balustrades ; the large terrace is dominated by a battlements typical of medieval castles and fortresses. The Venetian style, in an urban environment alien to these forms, is probably explained by the spread of the work of Viollet Le Duc, Pietre di Venezia, and of the drawings by John Ruskin, which reproduce, according to a singular interpretation, the chromatic backgrounds and the geometries used in the palaces of the lagoon city, and beyond. Once it was a prestigious exhibition venue, now it lies in degradation ... I hope it will soon return to its former glory

It is currently undergoing a complete renovation and work is in progress. Private residence.

Unfortunately it is left to abandonment and decay. The villa is historic, built immediately after the great earthquake in 1908 and due to its architectural features it is unique in its kind along the entire seafront. It is of great prominence. I do not think it is municipal property but the owners could donate a piece of this villa to all citizens and especially to tourists by making it open to visitors. Once I entered and underneath there are no particular finishes. The entrance with the three wrought iron doors, the marble staircase and the upper floor are finely cared for in the details and finishes. The rooms have the original parquet. I think they could use the ground floor rooms for exhibitions. While the entrance and the upper floor, if it were furnished, it would already be a museum just like the great royal palaces where the furniture and finishing speak for themselves.

Wonderful work that is the symbol of the conditions of the city, not only is it closed and unused, but it is literally falling apart ..... in the indifference of the administration and citizens .....

Charming villa with a refined style. A little abandoned in recent years and therefore decadent but which is finally undergoing some restoration works. Great place from istagram.com

Villa Zerbi once belonged to a powerful family from Genoa and was reconstructed in 1915. It is a very characteristic building on the way from the theater to the sandy and pebble beaches along this beach there are two-level changing rooms at the back with the Lido underground train station