The current archive and photo library are essential resources for studying the palace and its collections, and are available to the public and scholars upon request. The museum also provides images for study and publication purposes.

Photothèque

The museum preserves a collection of historical and recent photographs of the palace’s rooms and works relevant to its collections (the National Gallery of Palazzo Spinola and the National Gallery of Liguria). If you would like to request images for study or publication purposes, you can download the relevant form here.

Current archive

The museum collects OA and restoration cards for works preserved within its collection. To consult the current archive, please email palazzospinola@cultura.gov.it to arrange an appointment, stating the purpose of your visit.

Historical archive

From 15 May 2023 to the end of 2025, consultation of the documents preserved in the Historical Archives of Palazzo Spinola will be suspended due to works updating the facilities and the subsequent movement and reorganisation of the archival material.

It will be possible to consult the historical archive again by appointment starting from January 2026.

Palazzo Spinola houses an important historical archive comprising numerous documentary collections donated to the Italian State in 1958, along with the palace and its collections. Notably, it contains documents dating from the 17th to the 20th century belonging to the Grimaldi, Pallavicino, Balbi, Doria, Fieschi and Spinola families.

These documents are a vital resource for studying not only the museum, but also Genoese history, culture and customs.

To consult the Historical Archive, please email palazzospinola@cultura.gov.it to arrange an appointment, specifying the reason for your request.