The Mackenzie Castle (Italian: ''Castello Mackenzie'') is a historical manor in the
Castelletto quarter of
Genoa
Genoa ( ; ; ) is a city in and the capital of the Italian region of Liguria, and the sixth-largest city in Italy. As of 2025, 563,947 people live within the city's administrative limits. While its metropolitan city has 818,651 inhabitan ...
, northern
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
. It is an example of
Gothic Revival architecture
Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic or neo-Gothic) is an Architectural style, architectural movement that after a gradual build-up beginning in the second half of the 17th century became a widespread movement in the first half ...
.
Registered as a cultural space
Scheda Genova2004
— on the occasion of Genoa European Capital of Culture
A European Capital of Culture is a city designated by the European Union (EU) for a period of one calendar year during which it organises a series of cultural events with a strong pan-European dimension. Being a European Capital of Culture can ...
2004, in autumn 2006 it was one of the venues of the Festival della Scienza
The Festival della Scienza is an annual science festival held in Genoa, Italy. It was launched in 2003 combining hundreds of different initiatives and events, designed to fulfill and stimulate the interest of visitors of all ages and all levels o ...
.
History
The castle was built on a pre-existing country villa, in turn located on the site of the 16th century Genoese walls.
Built in 1893-1905, it was designed in Gothic revival
Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic or neo-Gothic) is an Architectural style, architectural movement that after a gradual build-up beginning in the second half of the 17th century became a widespread movement in the first half ...
style by Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau ( ; ; ), Jugendstil and Sezessionstil in German, is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially the decorative arts. It was often inspired by natural forms such as the sinuous curves of plants and ...
architect Gino Coppedè under commission by Evan Mackenzie, an insurance broker, whose family lived here for 26 years.
In 1956 it was declared a national monument. Thirty years later it was acquired by American collector Mitchell Wolfson, Jr. The restoration works he commissioned remained unfinished, and in 2002 the castle was sold to the Cambi auction house which commissioned the restoration to architect Gianfranco Franchini. The manor was opened to the public in 2004 and is now used as a public space for scientific or cultural exhibitions.
See also
*D'Albertis Castle
D'Albertis Castle () is a historic residence located in Genoa, in the north-western region of Italy. The castle was the former home of sea captain Enrico Alberto d'Albertis and was donated to the city of Genoa upon his death in 1932. Today, it ...
References
External links
Mackenzie Castle on Catalogo generale dei Beni Culturali
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{{Authority control
Mackenzie
Buildings and structures in Genoa
Gothic Revival architecture in Italy
Museums established in 2004
Museums in Genoa
Art Nouveau architecture in Italy
Art Nouveau houses
Houses completed in 1905
1905 establishments in Italy