Palazzo San Giorgio, Genoa

Standing near the old harbour of Genoa, this palace was built in the 13th century and later became the seat of one of the earliest public banks in Europe, an institution that helped finance the maritime republic. Its frescoed facade facing the port depicts warrior saints and civic heroes, restored to vivid colour in recent decades. The medieval hall inside is said to have held the explorer Marco Polo during a spell of captivity, where he is reputed to have dictated his travels.