Interior view

Bianco’s most accomplished structure is the present University, built as a Jesuit College along the Via Balbi (the street which he began in 1606 and opened in 1618). It presents an ensemble of incomparable splendour. For the first time he unified architecturally the vestibule and courtyard, in spite of their different levels; in the cortile he introduced two tiers of lofty arcades resting on twin columns; and at the far end he carried the staircase, dividing twice, to the whole height of the building

The photo shows the courtyard of the university.

View the section and ground plan of the University, Genoa.