The palace is recognisable by the portico with four arches and octagonal pillars and the polyphores turned into windows in the 17th century. It was heavily damaged during World War II and then restored as of 1950.
It was given to Lamba Doria by the Republic of Genoa as a reward for his merit as a leader during the Curzola battle (1298), where the Genoese reported an important victory over the Venetians. 
The Venetian Marco Polo was taken prisoner in the same battle of Curzola. He described the events of his journey to the East to Rustichello da Pisa, who transcribed them: his famous book, The Million, was thus born in Genoa.