Genoa’s Palazzi dei Rolli: an Italian museum and UNESCO world heritage site

About Genoa’s Palazzi dei Rolli

Genoa is a city rich in artistic heritage, recognized by UNESCO in 2006: “the first example in Europe of an urban development project parceled out by a public authority within a unitary framework and associated with a particular system of ‘public lodging’ in private residences”.

The Palazzi dei Rolli are 42 buildings in Genoa that date back to the 16th and 17th centuries, home to artistic treasures that have stood the test of time: priceless architecture, frescoes, painting collections, sculptures and furniture.

While strolling through the streets of Genoa, a visitor’s gaze may come to rest on ancient ornaments, historic nooks, and impressive entranceways that invite them to explore the city’s wealth of baroque, renaissance, and 19th-century treasures.

Palazzi dei Rolli and the Strade Nuove – a UNESCO heritage site

The 42 Palazzi dei Rolli buildings are situated along the Strade Nuove: Via Garibaldi, once known as “Strada Nuova” (New Street), via Balbi, via Cairoli, originally called “Strada Nuovissima” (Very New Street), via Lomellini and via San Luca.

The public-access buildings are home to museums and public organizations and open to the public year-round, while the private buildings are partially open to visitors.

The Palazzi dei Rolli buildings are numbered in order of UNESCO registration.

The list of stately homes was divided into tiers, known as “bussoli”, based on three main factors:

• the size and lavishness of the building,
• the guest’s rank,
• the social and financial standing of the building’s owner.

(Source: Palazzi dei Rolli and the Strade Nuove)

Palazzo Lercari Spinola

Palazzo Lercari Spinola at Via degli Orefici 7, one of the prestigious Palazzi dei Rolli, is an important building in Genoa’s historic center, situated in a complex that still boasts many medieval elements.

The building features a wealth of highly esteemed sculptures and frescoes of undisputed artistic value.

Vittoria Assicurazioni, owner of the extraordinary property, has sought to preserve it and make it newly accessible to the public through restoration works.

A stone’s throw from the city center, Palazzo Lercari Spinola offers beautifully restored apartments for rent, with state-of-the-art construction techniques and technological systems. It offers the opportunity to combine the charm and prestige of a historic building with all modern comforts.

Palazzo Doria De Fornari

Though not one of the Palazzi dei Rolli, Palazzo Doria de Fornari is an aristocratic building constructed at the end of the 16th century by Doge Ambrogio Doria, and located at no. 4, Piazza De Ferrari, a very central square in the heart of Genoa. The building has undergone major restoration that has brought its superb decorations back to life, including the stucco work and frescoes attributed to such artists as Angelo Piò, Sigismondo Betti, Francesco Campora and Lorenzo De Ferrari.

It has beautifully renovated quality apartments for sale, overlooking an area of the city rich in history, as well as representative offices for rent with rooms featuring beautiful period frescoes and stucco work.

All apartments and offices can be viewed here: palazzidigenova.it

Rolli Days event

The Municipality of Genoa, in collaboration with the owners of Palazzi dei Rolli and the University of Genoa, organizes Rolli Days events in May and October of each year to promote the city’s artistic heritage.

These are three-day events that allow the public to book a visit to Palazzi dei Rolli to admire the works of art by Genoa’s aristocracy.

Interimmobili Agency, which handles the marketing for Palazzo Lercari Spinola and Palazzo Doria De Fornari, has decided to participate in the event, giving the public the opportunity to admire these historical sites.

For information and to book, click here