Some of these palaces are visible year round (upon payment of an entry ticket) whereas some are normally locked up or reserved only for government use.
The reason of this is because some of these gorgeous palaces still belong to local noble families and are therefore private (although protected by the Ministry of Fine Arts. Other buildings were acquired by the Italian government and they host offices.
During these three days of discovery called “Rolli Days”, the main floors of 11 out of 12 palaces overlooking Via Garibaldi are accessible, together with villas and other buildings scattered all over the city and for a total of about 40 sites.
The historic and fascinating Genoese palaces that inspired the genius of Rubens have opened their doors to the public twice a year for free since 2006, usually in the Fall and in the Spring.
The famous artist Paul Rubens published a book about the Palazzi di Genova and he illustrated with tables, pictures and plans why he considered them the most elegant and the perfect European residences.
Visiting the palaces during the Rolli Days is not only better because it is tottaly free of charge but also because expert guides lead groups to discover all the historical, architectural and artistic aspects of such palaces. It is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the Golden Age of Genoa through the eyes of Rubens and not only.
Three days in which it is possible to explore the history, art and beauty guided by scientific communicators, University students and young professionals ready to involve visitors with their expertise.
The Rolli Days 2024 also bring two new features: the possibility of visiting the Archbishop's Palace with its tapestries, frescoes and other fascinating works including the Conservatory, a secular charitable work from the 18th century which houses a church, a picture gallery, a wonderful Genoese school nativity scene and the important archives of the Fieschi family and the Conservatory itself.
In addition to the visits conducted by the expert guides, other ways of visiting are available to the public: it is possible to book itineraries with a tourist guide also in another language, all free of charge. The commitment of the Municipality of Genoa is to offer all the public the possibility of enjoying the UNESCO heritage in an accessible way, with visits also reserved for people with disabilities.
As in every edition of the event, Rolli Days also fill the city with culture and emotions with an interesting program of theatrical and musical shows all over town, some to be paid for and some completely free.
Whereas the Fall edition normally focuses on the interior of the buildings ‘guided by an artistic theme’, the Spring editions rotate around the theme of the gardens and the outdoors.
This spring edition of the Rolli Days focuses on the extraordinary villas that have marked the cultural landscape of Genoa during its centuries of splendor as these villas represent an invaluable cultural heritage and offer a unique opportunity to reconnect the city through its monumental buildings.
The event highlights the importance of considering the UNESCO heritage not only in relation to the Palazzi dei Rolli, but also in connection with the city's historic villas.
Rubens himself recognized this synergy, seeing the villas as an integral part of the monumental system of Genoa.
The fountains, flowers and plants further enrich the experience, making the visit even more pleasant and immersive.
As above mentioned, tours are free of charge but they need to be reserved in advance using the website dedicated to the event.
Rolli palaces art
