Palazzi dei Rolli - Unesco Heritage
In the extraordinary years between the Renaissance and Baroque, the Genoese nobles had a series of very rich palaces designed and built in Strada Nuova, today Via Garibaldi, created from nothing as the theater of their magnificence; and they renovate the dozens of family residences that already existed in the historic center of the city.
Genoa is enriched with magnificent facades with stucco, marble or painted decorations, grandiose atriums, splendid gardens with fountains and nymphaeums; and inside, large frescoed halls, sumptuous furnishings, valuable collections, rich picture galleries. These extremely luxurious homes did not escape the eye of a refined artist such as the great Flemish painter Pieter Paul Rubens who, at the beginning of the 17th century, published the collection of drawings of the palaces in a book, which he proposed as a housing model for the nobility throughout Europe .
The number and splendor of the palaces gives rise to a particular system of public hospitality, established in 1576 by a Senate Decree: an official list of valuable palaces was established, and their owners were obliged to host, in turn, visits of state. Depending on the rank of the visiting guest, a palace was chosen to host him: the higher the degree of nobility of the guest, the more sumptuous the palace had to be and the richer the family that had the honor and burden of welcoming him .
The “List of Public Housing or Rolli” and its updates are preserved in precious volumes at the State Archives of Genoa.
The quality of the architecture and decorations of the palaces of Genoa, the curious system of public hospitality and the attention of Rubens are the elements for which in 2006 "Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi del Rolli" were included in the Heritage of UNESCO Humanity.
The UNESCO site includes 42 Rolli palaces, among the over 100 existing ones, which from Strada Nuova reach a large part of the historic center through Via Lomellini, Piazza Fossatello and Via San Luca, up to Piazza Banchi and the sea.
The Rolli palaces, in some cases, still belong to private individuals today, while many have become the headquarters of banks or offices; some have become Museums and are therefore always visitable: the buildings of the Strada Nuova Museums, the National Gallery of Palazzo Spinola di Pellicceria, the Museum of Palazzo Reale.
Every year Genoa celebrates its Palazzi dei Rolli, with the event Rolli Days: weekends during which the palaces open their doors and show their treasures to the public.
Let yourself be amazed by the charm of the Palazzi dei Rolli and discover some of the sumptuous residences thanks to the guided tour "The splendid Genoese residences of the 16th century"!
APP Palazzi dei Rolli Genoa
Thanks to the new app Palazzi dei Rolli Genova, which can be downloaded for free, you can navigate among the 42 Palazzi dei Rolli, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006, consult in-depth information sheets, locate the buildings via the augmented reality browser, navigate the map, consult events and information sheets of points of interest via scanning with an augmented reality engine.
The mobile APP is available on the Apple Store (IOS version) App Palazzi dei Rolli Genova and Google Play Store (Android version) Genova Rolli.
The website
If you want to learn more about these real jewels, an undisputed symbol of the glories of Genoa in the past, you can consult the official website: https://www.rolliestradenuove.it/
