Guided Visit to the Rolli Palaces in Genoa
This guided tour opens the doors to several sumptuous residences, built by the most powerful and wealthiest families in Genoa during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since 2006, the Rolli Palaces have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
During Genoa's heyday, known as the Secolo d'Oro ("Golden Century"), the finest homes of the Genoese nobility were included in the rolli (parchment rolls listing the palaces) - an official register of private residences used for state visits. With their luxurious and elegant decor, the Rolli Palaces once hosted the most prominent guests of the Republic of Genoa, including kings, princes, diplomats, and ambassadors.
The network of Rolli Palaces comprises splendid buildings featuring imposing staircases, courtyards, and loggias overlooking lush gardens. Depending on their wealth and size, they were assigned to one of three voting lists (bussoli) to determine which guests they would host. Palaces on the first list had the honor and duty of hosting princes, viceroys, and cardinals; the second list was for high-ranking landowners; while the third list accommodated lower-ranking princes and ambassadors.
The Rolli Palaces were also admired by the great Flemish painter Rubens, who, at the beginning of the 17th century, published a book of drawings of these buildings to serve as a model for the nobility in Antwerp.
Book a Guided Tour of the Rolli Palaces
Guided Tour of the Rolli Palaces:
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Language: English, Italian (bilingual tour)
- The guided tour takes place on Saturdays.
- The visit includes guided tour, entry to Palazzo Imperiale, entry to Palazzo Rosso (one of the museums on Strada Nuova), and visits to Palazzo Lomellino and Palazzo Tobia Pallavicino
The guided tour of the Rolli Palaces is organized by the Tourism Office of the city of Genoa.
