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Genoa: Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli

Genua, Ligurien, Italy
20.10.2019

Genua, located on the coast of the Ligurian Sea in Italy, is a city steeped in history and culture. It is home to many impressive architectural wonders, including Le Strade Nuove and the Palazzi-dei-Rolli-Komplex.

Le Strade Nuove, or "New Streets", is a collection of grand avenues that were built in the 16th century as part of a urban expansion project. These streets, also known as Via Garibaldi, Via Balbi, and Via Cairoli, are lined with majestic palaces and mansions. The design and layout of these streets were heavily influenced by the Renaissance and Baroque styles, making them a feast for the eyes.

The Palazzi-dei-Rolli-Komplex, also known as the Rolli Palaces, is a group of 42 palaces that were designated by the Republic of Genoa in the 16th century to host important guests and dignitaries. These palaces, many of which were designed by renowned architects such as Galeazzo Alessi, are known for their elaborate facades, grand staircases, and opulent interiors. They were also the first example of a public register system for hosting guests, making them an important piece of history in the city.

In 2006, Le Strade Nuove and the Palazzi-dei-Rolli-Komplex were collectively designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This recognition further solidified their significance and importance in the world of architecture and design.

Today, visitors to Genua can take a stroll along Le Strade Nuove and marvel at the stunning palaces and buildings that line the streets. Many of the palaces are now open to the public as museums, giving visitors the opportunity to step inside and admire their grandeur and beauty.

Overall, Genua's Le Strade Nuove and Palazzi-dei-Rolli-Komplex are a must-see for anyone interested in history, architecture, and Italian culture. They are a testament to the city's rich past and serve as a reminder of its grandeur and influence in the region.


The Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli in Genoa’s historic centre date from the late 16th and early 17th centuries when the Republic of Genoa was at the height of its financial and seafaring power. The site represents the first example in Europe of an urban development project parcelled out by a public authority within a unitary framework and associated to a particular system of ‘public lodging’ in private residences, as decreed by the Senate in 1576. The site includes an ensemble of Renaissance and Baroque palaces along the so-called ‘new streets’ (Strade Nuove). The Palazzi dei Rolli offer an extraordinary variety of different solutions, achieving universal value in adapting to the particular characteristics of the site and to the requirements of a specific social and economic organization. They also offer an original example of a public network of private residences designated to host state visits.

Genoa: Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which includes a number of streets and palaces in the center of Genoa, in Northwestern Italy.

The Strade Nuove (Italian for "New Streets") are a group of streets built by the Genoese aristocracy during the expansion of the city at a time when the Republic of Genoa was at the height of its financial and seafaring power. These are Via Giuseppe Garibaldi (1558-1583, formerly Strada Maggiore or Strada Nuova) and Via Balbi (1602-1620, formerly Strada Balbi), later followed by Via Cairoli (1778-1786, formerly Strada Nuovissima).

The Palazzi dei Rolli (Italian for "Palaces of the Lists") are a group of palaces - most of which also date from the late 16th and early 17th centuries - which were associated to a particular system of ‘public lodging’ in private residences, whereby notable guests on State visit to the Republic were hosted in one of these palaces on behalf of the State.

On 13 July 13, 2006, forty-two of the 163 palaces originally included in one the five public list called "Rolli" (Italian for "lists") were selected as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO special committee meeting in Vilnius (Lithuania). The site includes an ensemble of Renaissance and Baroque palaces along the so-called ‘new streets’ (Strade Nuove), which offer an extraordinary variety of different solutions, achieving universal value in adapting to the particular characteristics of the site and to the requirements of a specific social and economic organization. They also offer an original example of a public network of private residences designated to host state visits.On January 20, 2007, UNESCO unveiled a plaque in via Garibaldi, the former Strada Nuova, explaining the reasons for inclusion of the Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli within the World Heritage Sites:

The largest homes, various in shape and distribution, that were chosen at random in the lists (rolli) to host visits of state. The buildings, often built on sloping land, formed of a stepped atrium - courtyard - staircase - garden and rich interior decorations, express a singular social and economic identity and commencement of modern age urban architecture in Europe.Some of the Palazzi dei Rolli are used today as public buildings, museums, offices and private residences. Among the palaces open to the public, Palazzo Rosso, Palazzo Bianco and Palazzo Doria Tursi jointly constitute the Strada Nuova Museums located in via Garibaldi.

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