Experience the enchanting Spring 2024 Rolli Days while staying at “Le Stanze del Piccadilly” Hostel, ideally located just steps away from Genoa’s most magnificent and significant Rolli Palaces. This proximity allows you to effortlessly explore the entire Historic Center of Genoa.
During the event, scheduled from Friday, May 17 to Sunday, May 19, 2024, Genoa’s urban landscape showcases a captivating blend of historical and industrial elements. This contrast between ancient Renaissance villas and modern buildings illustrates the city’s complex evolution over centuries. The theme for the 2024 Spring Rolli Days emphasizes the visual and architectural tapestry that defines Genoa, offering a unique cultural immersion.
Pre-booking is required for the visits, available through HappyTicket starting Thursday, May 2. Detailed scheduling and additional information can be found on the Visit Genoa website and the booking platform.
The event highlights significant changes dating back to the 19th century when Genoa underwent substantial transformations, embracing industrial fervor that led to the development of factories and infrastructure. The expansion primarily affected what were then the city’s green, peripheral areas—once the backdrop for the grandiose Villa Palaces, architectural and artistic treasures representing the city’s golden age.
These opulent residences, once described by visitors to the ancient Republic as lush earthly paradises, are renowned for their expansive gardens. Designed to amaze visitors with intricate water features and artificial grottoes, these gardens created a dreamlike, bucolic atmosphere, unique in all of Europe.
In addition to the traditional tours of centrally located Rolli Palaces, visitors can explore engaging routes tracing the footsteps of Genoa’s most prominent Renaissance families and their splendid homes. This includes newly featured sites like Villa Sciallero Carbone in Sestri Ponente, adorned with late-16th-century frescoes, showcasing pre-Alessian architectural styles.
Giacomo Montanari, the scientific curator of Rolli Days, remarks on the city’s transformation: “Genoa is historically known for its resort districts, creating a unique European image sadly obscured by urban expansion in the 20th century. Today, reconnecting with the villas and their decorative arts, and their direct links to UNESCO World Heritage city palaces is crucial for understanding the city’s fabric and its enduring connection between the city center and outlying areas.”
Below is a list of palaces and sites open for the May 2024 edition of Rolli Days, along with churches and other cultural landmarks involved in the event.
Rolli Palaces Open for Visitation:
- Palazzo Antonio Doria Spinola (Prefecture)
- Palazzo Interiano Pallavicino, and more.
Highlighted Villas and Sites:
- Villa Pallavicino delle Peschiere
- Villa Imperiale di Terralba, among others.
Churches and Cultural Institutions:
- Oratorio dei Santi Nazario e Celso
- Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta in Carignano, and more.
Rolli Days not only celebrate Genoa’s rich historical and cultural heritage through guided palace tours but also feature a variety of side events including musical and theatrical performances, providing a full cultural experience in some of the world’s most unique settings.
This Spring, coinciding with Genoa as the 2024 European Capital of Sports, Rolli Days includes a family-friendly non-competitive run through Rolli’s iconic locations, adding a dynamic way to experience the city. Furthermore, operatic performances such as Verdi’s “La Traviata” at Villa Pallavicino delle Peschiere and Puccini’s “Tosca” at Palazzo della Meridiana enrich the cultural offerings.
In conjunction with the National Office for Ecclesiastical Cultural Heritage’s initiative, the Archdiocese of Genoa’s Cultural Heritage Office organizes “I Care for My City,” featuring open days at historical churches and cultural institutes, highlighting two decades of cultural activities and restorations funded by the 8 per thousand tax allocation to the Catholic Church.
For detailed schedules and booking information, visit the Visit Genoa website and ensure your spot at this not-to-be-missed cultural heritage event.