Villas and palaces During the early 16th century, the aristocratic families of Genoese ruling class built their villas, designed by the best architects, in the surroundings of the city. The hill of Albaro, on account of its proximity to the city, became a favorite place of vacation for the Genoese upper class, who in summer moved there to spend the hot season. Some of the most notable of these historic houses are: • Villa Bagnarello, where
Charles Dickens lived from July to September 1844 • Villa Brignole Sale, built at the beginning of the 17th century, restored after the damage of the
World War II, now a private school • , designed by architect
Galeazzo Alessi around 1548, now seat of the Engineering Department of Genoa University • , designed by
Andrea Ceresola at the end of the 16th century, now divided into apartments. Here the singer-songwriter
Fabrizio De André lived in his boyhood • Villa Saluzzo Mongiardino, where
Lord Byron lived between 1822 and 1823 Houses built in the first decades of 20th century reflect the architectural styles of that time.
Gothic revival,
Art Nouveau and
rationalist buildings can be seen. The best examples in these styles of architecture are the Villa Canali Gaslini and the Castle Türke (both designed by
Gino Coppedè), the rationalist buildings of
Luigi Carlo Daneri, and the more recent Palazzo Ollandini, original building of
Robaldo Morozzo della Rocca.
Places of worship In Albaro there are today five Catholic
parish churches, among them the historic churches of , with a monastery of
Friars Minor Conventual (built in the 14th century, and in which today Greyfriars still officiate), and (18th century). Since
World War II, owing to the increase of population three new modern churches have been constructed (N.S. del Rosario, Santa Teresa and San Pio X). Other notable churches include , now close to Corso Italia, built in the 13th century: this is the only one of several small churches built on the seashore to survive. , near to San Francesco d'Albaro, was built in
Romanesque style in 1172 by
Canons Regular of the Holy Cross of Mortara, and since 1935 it has housed the
nuns of the
Institute of Sisters of the Immaculata. In the church there is the grave of the founder Saint
Agostino Roscelli. In ancient times there were other churches in Albaro which no longer exist owing to urban expansion. The best known of these was dedicated to Saints Nazario and Celso, the ruins of which were demolished for the construction of Corso Italia. The others were those of San Vito, Santa Giusta, San Luca and Sant'Elena. == Notable people ==