West of the magnificent church of Santissima Annunziata is the beginning of Via Balbi, another street laid out in the early 17th century and lined with splendid palaces.
Wider than Via Garibaldi, but less breathtaking in grandeur and more punctuated with shops and everyday life, it still has its share of palaces. At No. 4 stands the Palazzo Balbi-Senarega and at No. 5 is the Palazzo dell'Università, with the finest courtyard and gardens in Genoa.
Opposite Palazzo dell'Università is the 17th-century Palazzo Reale, worth seeing for its grand staircases, balconies, sumptuously decorated interior, and art collection, which includes several by Van Dyck, who lived and worked in Genoa for six years.
Step onto the beautiful garden terrace for views of the harbor and Piazza Statuto.
