Via Garibaldi Palaces (Strade Nuove)

Via Garibaldi, historically the Strada Nuova, is a short but spectacular Renaissance and Baroque street in central Genoa, Liguria, lined with the aristocratic palaces of the UNESCO-listed Strade Nuove and the Palazzi dei Rolli. Built in the sixteenth century to house the city's ruling families, the street presents a near-continuous wall of grand facades with frescoed loggias, carved marble portals, and richly decorated courtyards, including the museum palaces of Palazzo Rosso, Palazzo Bianco, and Palazzo Doria-Tursi. Photographically the street offers two distinct subjects: the exterior architecture, best shot straight down the narrow street to layer the facades while keeping the tall buildings from leaning, and the interiors, where open atria, columned courtyards, frescoed staircases, and gilded salons reward symmetrical compositions. Because Via Garibaldi is narrow and the palaces are tall, direct sun reaches the street only around midday; this is the best time for even exterior light, while blue hour lights the facades and lamps for a warmer mood, and the interiors are weather-independent and shootable any time the museums are open. The street works year-round, which makes it a dependable wet-weather and winter option when the coast is grey. Crowds are modest compared with the seaside villages, and tripod room on the street is generally available, though tripod use inside the museum palaces is often restricted and should be checked at each entrance. The street itself is free to walk; the museum palaces of the Musei di Strada Nuova charge a combined admission of around 9 to 10 euro for the three main houses. Verticals must be corrected, either in camera with a shift lens or in processing, so the palaces stand straight. Drone use over the dense historic centre is restricted. Access is easy and level along the paved pedestrian street, with the palace interiors reached up internal stairs, some of which have lifts.