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ART AND HISTORY ON SHOW FROM PIEDMONT TO SICILY
Banca Carige opens its historic buildings to the public on occasion of the once-a-year event
"Invito a Palazzo"
Genoa, 2 October 2014 - Novelties at Banca Carige on the thirteenth edition of “Invito a Palazzo”, a national event
organised by the Italian Banking Association on the first Saturday of October each year, which has seen the
participation of Banca Carige since its first edition.
In addition to opening the doors of its headquarters offices, reception halls and 15th floor panoramic balcony over
Genoa's historic city centre to the public, Carige will give its visitors at Genoa's headquarters the chance to admire a
juxtaposition of two 17th century canvases portraying the 'Ecce Homo' scene by Valerio Castello and Orazio De
Ferrari respectively. This motif became extremely popular in Genoa's 17th century painting, probably in the wake of
Caravaggio's prototype -today exhibited at the Palazzo Bianco museum in Genoa- which inspired numerous artists,
including Bernardo Strozzi, Luciano Borzone as well as Valerio Castello and Orazio De Ferrari.
Both paintings are part of Banca Carige's collection and will be described in detail by specialised guides.
On Saturday, 4 October, free-of-charge guided tours will be offered to visit three historic buildings owned by the
Bank:
Genoa's Headquarters in Via Cassa di Risparmio 15 will unveil the Bank's art collections of renowned paintings,
majolica pottery and contemporary works of art. Bernardo Strozzi, Gioacchino Assereto, Domenico Piola, Valerio
Castello, Gregorio and Orazio De Ferrari, Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione, Bartolomeo Guidobono, Nicolò Barabino,
Giovanni Boldini are but a few of the old and pre-war masters on exhibit.
Branch no. 8 at Piazza Santa Sabina, Genoa, with its architectural structure built from a medieval church, will show
two accurately restored, well-illuminated apses together with Bernardo Strozzi's altarpiece depicting the "Incarnation of
Christ".
The 'Palazzo del Monte di Pietà' (Mount of Piety palace), head office of Banca Carige Italia in Palermo, was built
between 1549 and 1554 and has been a banking institution since1591; after meticulous restoration, the historic building
has been brought back to its ancient grandeur.
Visitors will be admitted to Banca Carige's historic buildings free of charge and non-stop from 10 a.m to 7 p.m.
(last visit starting at 6 p.m.), led by tour guides and experts who will describe the works of art on display.