Rolli Days Genoa 2026: in 1576, whoever hosted a prince decided fate; today, you decide.

The loggia of the Royal Palace, in Via Balbi: the view that once fell by lot

Imagine finding yourself in Genoa in 1576. There are no B&Bs, there are no hotels, and the Republic has a very practical problem: it has no king, so it has no royal palace to house the princes, cardinals, and ambassadors arriving on state visits.

Genoa, in those years, was one of the richest cities in Europe: its bankers financed the crowns of half the continent. But he can't afford to let a distinguished guest sleep in just any inn.

The Senate resolved the matter in its own way, with a decree: the Rolli system was born, lists of noble houses required by law to house those arriving in the city.

Families are divided into three categories, called compasses, based on the value of their home, and when a guest arrives, they do not choose who will receive them at will. Lottery is drawn among the families of the right compass, a public drawing that decides who, for a few days, will have the honor and burden of hosting a prince.

That Republic was not a transit entity. Genoa was an independent maritime republic from the year 1000 until 1797, nearly eight centuries of self-government, longer than the duration of many empires we study today in history books.

Few tell this in travel guides, but this explains well how confidently the Senate could impose this far-from-lightweight task of state hospitality on the wealthiest families.

It wasn't paid hospitality, but it wasn't a burden to bear either: it was a disputed privilege, a way to get Genoa's greatness talked about throughout Europe. Families invested in increasingly sumptuous frescoes, stuccoes, and furnishings only to remain in the highest compass, in a competition of prestige that lasted nearly two centuries.

The Throne Room of the Royal Palace: here the Savoys received those who really mattered. The principle, three centuries after 1576, has not changed much.

One of the interior views of the Royal Palace, always open to the public and not only during Rolli Days.

And it was precisely to give the city facades worthy of that role that between the end of the sixteenth century and the first half of the seventeenth century the Strade Nuove were born, what we today call Via Garibaldi, Via Cairoli and Via Balbi.

In 1576, being hosted as a prince was a privilege that depended on fate, a compass drawing in which no one, not even the most important guest, could choose where he would be welcomed.

Today, being welcomed with care, in a city that still wants to make a good impression, no longer depends on a drawing: it simply depends on where you decide to book.

For centuries this history remained buried in the folders of the Secret Archives of the Republic, until in the 1990s the historian Ennio Poleggi brought it to light, a work that led, in 2006, to the inscription of the Strade Nuove and the Palazzi dei Rolli system as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

2026 is the twentieth anniversary of that recognition, and perhaps that's why Rolli Days Genova 2026 has a particular flavor.

Rolli Days Genoa 2026: When and How

The autumn edition will be held from October 16 to 18, 2026. For three days, the buildings on the Strade Nuove open their doors to the public with free guided tours, led by the Municipality's Scientific Popularizers, who recount the same interiors that once housed princes, cardinals, and ambassadors.

The complete calendar of participating buildings and booking methods can be found on the official Rolli Days website.

You don't necessarily have to hit Rolli Days weekend to see the inside of one of these buildings.

Of the 42 Palazzi dei Rolli recognized by UNESCO, four are museums open year-round, for a fee: Palazzo Tobia Pallavicino on Via Garibaldi, Palazzo della Meridiana on Salita San Francesco, Palazzo Reale on Via Balbi, and the National Gallery of Palazzo Spinola in Piazza Pellicceria.

Added to which are the Strada Nuova Museums, housed in Palazzo Rosso, Palazzo Bianco and Palazzo Doria-Tursi.

All the other palaces in the system only open their doors on exceptional occasions like this one, which makes Rolli Days a unique and rare event. It's also good news for those planning their trip at a different time of year: something to see, among these interiors, remains nonetheless.

At the National Gallery of Palazzo Spinola, in Piazza Pellicceria, the ceilings also depict the sea: the frescoes celebrate the very naval exploits on which the Republic built its fortune.

Statues, paintings and silverware follow one another non-stop in the rooms of the National Gallery of Palazzo Spinola.

Where to sleep to experience the New Roads up close

We recommend Acquario House to those who want to experience Rolli Days without worries: it is in the heart of the caruggi, just a few minutes walk from Via Garibaldi and the other Strade Nuove where the buildings open to the public during the event are concentrated.

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FAQ

What are the Palazzi dei Rolli in Genoa?

These are the noble residences which, starting from a decree of the Senate of the Republic of 1576, were legally obliged to host princes, cardinals and ambassadors visiting Genoa. They are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the Strade Nuove.

• When are Rolli Days Genoa 2026 held?

The autumn edition takes place from October 16 to 18, 2026, with free guided tours of the historic buildings of the Strade Nuove.

• Why are the Palazzi dei Rolli a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

They represent a unique case in European history: a public authority planning an entire urban system of private residences intended for state hospitality. UNESCO registration dates back to 16 July 2006.

• Where are the Palazzi dei Rolli in Genoa located?

Mainly along the Strade Nuove: Via Garibaldi, Via Cairoli and Via Balbi, in the historic centre of Genoa.