A system of 42 aristocratic palaces along Genoa's New Streets, built by the city's banking families and registered to host visiting heads of state, inscribed by UNESCO in 2006 for their integrated Renaissance and Baroque architecture.
The Palazzi dei Rolli are a group of grand private residences built by Genoa's wealthiest merchant and banking dynasties along the Strade Nuove, principally Via Garibaldi (the former Strada Nuova), Via Balbi, and Via Lomellini, during the city's economic golden age in the 16th and 17th centuries. The word rolli refers to official rolls or lists of palaces selected by public lottery to host visiting popes, cardinals, princes, and ambassadors at the republic's expense, a unique system of state hospitality that obliged the owners to build and maintain residences of suitable magnificence. Some 42 of these palaces were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2006 as an outstanding example of an urban project realised within a unified architectural framework. Behind their austere or richly decorated facades lie monumental atriums, open staircases, internal courtyards, and hanging gardens that climb the steep hillside, with frescoed halls by Genoese masters such as Luca Cambiaso and Domenico Piola. Three of the most important, Palazzo Rosso, Palazzo Bianco, and Palazzo Tursi, today form the Musei di Strada Nuova, housing collections of Genoese, Flemish, and Italian painting including works by Van Dyck, Rubens, Veronese, and Caravaggio. The ensemble represents one of the earliest examples in Europe of an urban development governed by a public authority within a coordinated plan, conceived to display the power and refinement of the Genoese aristocracy at the height of the republic's wealth. Most facades can be admired freely along the pedestrianised Via Garibaldi, while the museum palaces and, during the periodic Rolli Days, many normally private interiors are opened to visitors in central Genoa.
Why it matters
The Palazzi dei Rolli embody Genoa's wealth and power at the height of the maritime republic and represent one of Europe's earliest coordinated urban projects, recognised by UNESCO in 2006.
Location
Via Garibaldi, 16124 Genova GE, Italy
44.4116, 8.9322 View on map
Highlights
- The frescoed galleries and Van Dyck portraits inside Palazzo Rosso and Palazzo Bianco
- The monumental staircase and hanging garden of Palazzo Tursi, now Genoa's city hall
- The unified Renaissance facades lining the pedestrian Via Garibaldi
- Open courtyards and atriums framing views up the steep hillside streets
- Rolli Days weekends when private frescoed palaces open to the public
Tips for visiting
- Buy the Musei di Strada Nuova combined ticket to see Palazzo Rosso, Bianco, and Tursi in one visit
- Time a visit to coincide with the spring or autumn Rolli Days for access to private interiors
- Climb to the roof terrace of Palazzo Rosso for one of the best rooftop panoramas of Genoa
- Walk Via Garibaldi in the late afternoon when the warm light catches the stone and stucco facades
- Combine the palaces with the nearby Cattedrale di San Lorenzo and the old port within easy walking distance
When to visit
Spring and autumn bring mild weather and the Rolli Days openings; late afternoon offers the best light on the facades and smaller museum crowds.
Accessibility
Via Garibaldi is paved and largely level, making the exteriors easy to approach, but the historic palaces have monumental staircases and uneven thresholds; the Strada Nuova museums offer partial access and visitors with mobility needs should check current arrangements with the ticket office.
Frequently asked questions
How many palaces can be visited inside?
Three of the Rolli palaces, Palazzo Rosso, Palazzo Bianco, and Palazzo Tursi, are permanent museums open year-round, while many others open their interiors only during the periodic Rolli Days events.
What are the Rolli Days?
Rolli Days are open weekends held usually in spring and autumn, when dozens of the privately owned palaces open their frescoed halls, courtyards, and gardens to the public, often free with timed reservation.
Is the area walkable?
Yes. The main Rolli streets, Via Garibaldi and Via Balbi, are pedestrianised or low-traffic and lie within a compact area of central Genoa, easily explored on foot.