Genova Rolli Palaces Celebrate 20 Years of UNESCO Recognition

Genova Rolli heritage is preparing to experience a new moment of international visibility. On September 17, in Paris, UNESCO Headquarters will host a celebration dedicated to the twenty-year anniversary of the inclusion of the site 'Genova: Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli' in the World Heritage List, a recognition achieved in 2006. The initiative, organized in collaboration with the Permanent Representation of Italy to UNESCO, represents an important international promotional opportunity for the city. The event will be attended by representatives of UNESCO and the World Heritage Centre, delegations from the member countries of the World Heritage Committee, and journalists from the Italian and international press.

The celebration will offer Genova the opportunity to present the historical, cultural, and architectural value of the Rolli to a qualified audience, strengthening the city’s positioning within major global cultural and tourism circuits. The appointment is also part of a broader territorial marketing strategy aimed at promoting the Genoese territory to international stakeholders, cultural operators, institutions, media, and potential investors from various countries.

The Rolli System tells the story of one of the most significant periods in the city’s history. Between the 16th and 17th centuries, Genova held a prominent position in European commercial and financial exchanges. The great aristocratic palaces of the Strade Nuove were part of an innovative system of public hospitality through which the Republic of Genova made select private residences available to host sovereigns, diplomats, and other illustrious visitors. Recognized by UNESCO in 2006, the Palazzi dei Rolli represent a unique urban model in the world and a testament to the economic and financial centrality of Genova between the 1500s and 1600s. Today, they still constitute one of the most distinctive elements of the city's identity and a strong attraction for tourists, students, researchers, and investors interested in the enhancement of historical and cultural heritage.

The Paris event will also serve as an opportunity to present the program of initiatives that will accompany the twentieth-anniversary celebrations, with the goal of further increasing the international awareness of the Rolli and encouraging new tourist flows to the city.

Twenty years after UNESCO recognition, Le Strade Nuove and the System of the Palazzi dei Rolli continue to represent a strategic asset for Genova international competitiveness and appeal, demonstrating how the enhancement of cultural heritage can become a lever for development, territorial innovation, and sustainable growth."

Edited by  Rebeca Burgos