If you plan to get more information about the upcoming edition of Rolli Days in Genoa you have come to the right place.
I am Andrea from Discover Genoa and in this post I will tell you about when the event takes place, which palaces are open, what is the full program, how to participate in the guided tours, and what is the best itinerary for visiting the palaces on your own.
Are you ready? Let’s get started!
Palazzi dei Rolli in Genoa: guided tour in the UNESCO site
Join a guided tour of some of Genoa’s most beautiful palaces, dating back to the 16th century. Visit some real noble residences, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Rolli Days Genoa 2024: dates and times
- Dates: September 14, 15, 20, 21, 2024
- Location: Genoa Historic Center
- Opening hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Open buildings: 50 sites, 10 sacred buildings, 11 villas, 2 archives, 1 historical library
What are the Palazzi dei Rolli?
The Rolls of Genoa are the main aristocratic palaces of the city.
They are called Rolli precisely because, back in 1576, the Senate of the Republic of Genoa established lists known as the “Rolli degli alloggiamenti pubblici,” in which such palaces were listed.
These valuable documents are still preserved and accessible today at the Archivio di Stato di Genova.
Previously, Genoese aristocratic families had completely revolutionized numerous mansions in the heart of the historic center, while the most influential families had erected lavish new residences along the Strada Nuova, now known as via Garibaldi.
Since hosting state guests at the Ducal Palace was not practical for either political or logistical reasons, the owners of the palaces included in the lists were required to open the doors of their mansions – randomly selected on each occasion – to diplomats, dignitaries and aristocrats visiting the Republic.
These noble hosts had to support all the expenses associated with hosting.
The public hospitality system implemented in Genoa was unique: thanks to the presence of its distinguished international guests, including the renowned Flemish painter Pieter Paul Rubens, who celebrated Genoa’s palaces in a voluminous editorial success story published in Antwerp, Genoa gained fame throughout Europe for the excellence of its architecture and for a refined, upscale lifestyle.
As of 2006, as many as 42 of these Palaces have received the prestigious recognition of UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What are Rolli Days?
Rolli Days is a real dive into the history and beauty of Genoa!
This is a special weekend when numerous historic palaces, known as “the Rolli,” open their doors to the public to give you a truly unique experience.
The next edition of Rolli Days will be held the weekend of s, so mark the dates on your calendar now.
This is an incredible opportunity to explore some of Genoa’s architectural treasures, many of which would otherwise not be accessible to the public.
The event is promoted and organized by the Municipality of Genoa in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce of Genoa, the Ministry of Culture – Regional Secretariat of Liguria, the Association of the Rolli of the Genoese Republic, the University of Genoa and co-funded by the Ministry of Tourism as part of the DOGE project – “European Genoese Hospitality Residences.”
How to participate in Rolli Days and visit the Rolli of Genoa
To visit the Palazzi dei Rolli during Rolli Days reservations are required. Here is all the useful info to participate:
- You are allowed to explore all the sites available on the booking platform (subject to availability). Each visitor is free to select the sites they wish to visit and plan their own itinerary.
- When booking, you will be able to choose your preferred time for the visit, if it is available. It is advisable to consider travel time between palaces when planning your visit schedule.
- Access to the sites is free unless otherwise stated.
- After booking online, you will receive a confirmation email to present directly at the entrance of the event for access control. You can show it printed or directly on your smartphone.
Palazzi dei Rolli in Genoa: guided tour in the UNESCO site
Join a guided tour of some of Genoa’s most beautiful palaces, dating back to the 16th century. Visit some real noble residences, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What are the palaces of the Rolli that can be visited?
But what are the historic Genoese palaces open to the public, which can be entered by reservation? Here is a map of all historic palaces(red color icons),villas (green color icons)and sites that can be visited (blue color icons) during the upcoming Rolli Days:
Guided tours of the Rolli Days
If you would like to explore the Palazzi dei Rolli together with a professional tour guide, you have the option of joining guided group tours free of charge or for a fee.
These tours follow different itineraries, each of which includes a visit to two Palazzi of the Rolli System and a guided narrative about the surrounding urban context, with a special focus on the Palazzi dei Rolli, the adjacent churches, and the Historical Shops.
The guides who will lead the tours are qualified professionals, while the outreach within the palaces visited will be done by experienced science popularizers.
List of open buildings coming soon.
Palazzi dei Rolli in Genoa: guided tour in the UNESCO site
Join a guided tour of some of Genoa’s most beautiful palaces, dating back to the 16th century. Visit some real noble residences, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
How to visit the Rolli of Genoa: tour itinerary
If you are planning to visit the Palazzi dei Rolli on your own, I leave you with what is, for me, the best tour itinerary. The one in which you will touch the 6 most well-known and important palaces.
PLEASE NOTE: Most of these palaces are also open other than during the Rolli days, thus remaining open for most of the year.
Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale)
If we start our journey from Genova Piazza Principe station, we immediately come across this architectural gem. Palazzo Stefano Balbi, known as Palazzo Reale, is open all year round, offering the opportunity to admire it even outside of Rolli Days. The building, which was built by Stefano Balbi and later belonged to the Durazzo and Savoy families, welcomes visitors with the majestic carriage of Charles Albert. Its elegant rooms are filled with works of art, enchanting visitors at every turn.
Red Palace (Palazzo Rosso)
We continue our journey to Palazzo Rosso, located on Via Garibaldi and part of the Strada Nuova Museums. Here, the precious art collection of the noble Brignole-Sale family transports us through the centuries with works by great masters such as Strozzi, Veronese and Van Dyck.
White Palace (Palazzo Bianco)
Foto di HEN-Magonza via Flickr
Opposite Palazzo Rosso stands Palazzo Luca Grimaldi, also known as Palazzo Bianco. Here, an extraordinary collection of European paintings from the 16th to 18th centuries delights us with works by Genoese and international artists such as Rubens and De Zurbaran.
Doria-Tursi Palace (Palazzo Doria-Tursi)
Adjacent to Palazzo Bianco, we find Palazzo Doria-Tursi, home of Genoa City Hall. This imposing building houses a museum gallery celebrating Genoese painting of the 17th and 18th centuries, along with Paganini’s famous violin.
Nicolosio Lomellino Palace (Palzzo Nicolosio Lomellino)
The striking Palazzo Nicolosio Lomellino, with its enchanting stucco decoration and nymphaeum in the inner courtyard, is another important part of our itinerary. Here, temporary and permanent exhibits enrich visitors’ experience.
Tobia Pallavicino Palace – Chamber of Commerce
Finally, we end our journey with a visit to Palazzo Tobia Pallavicino, a 16th-century architectural marvel filled with breathtaking stuccoes and frescoes. This palace houses the headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce, offering an unparalleled cultural and historical experience.
Frequently asked questions
The next Rolli Days in Genoa are scheduled for September 14, 15 and 20, 21 2024.
During the Republic of Genoa, the “Rolli of the Public Lodgings of Genoa” (or Rolli di Genova) were lists of palaces and mansions of noble families intended to host high personalities visiting Genoa for state meetings in the 16th and 17th centuries. Today, “Rolli of Genoa” means precisely these palaces, which open their doors to the public during the Rolli Days.
The Rolli Days (Italian for “the days of the Rolli) are a free event sponsored by the City of Genoa in collaboration with the owners of the Palazzi dei Rolli and the University of Genoa in which Genoa’s historic palaces open their doors to the public.
You can book for the Rolli, starting august 2024.
There are as many as 42 Palaces of the Rolli, but there are some better known than others. If you have to choose which ones to visit, I recommend that you opt for the Palazzo Reale, the Red Palace, the White Palace, the Palazzo Doria-Tursi, the Palazzo Nicolosio Lomellino, the National Gallery of Palazzo Spinola, the Palazzo Balbi Piovera, and the Palazzo Pallavicino.
The historic palaces of Genoa, erected between the 16th and 17th centuries, number forty-two. These sumptuous mansions belonged to bankers, shipowners, and merchants from the richest and most powerful families of the period.
Rolli Days 2024: conclusions
Here we have come to the end of this article on the Palaces of Rolli in Genoa and Rolli Days, in which we saw what dates and times are, the list of palaces open, how to book and what is the best itinerary to visit the most important buildings.
These are just some of the hidden treasures that Genoa has to offer during Rolli Days. If you have already had the pleasure of attending this extraordinary event, share your experience with us in the comments below!.
Palazzi dei Rolli in Genoa: guided tour in the UNESCO site
Join a guided tour of some of Genoa’s most beautiful palaces, dating back to the 16th century. Visit some real noble residences, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Photo credits:
- Copertina: Foto di Steffen Lemmerzahl su Unsplash
