Palazzo dei Rolli & Via Garibaldi
Via Garibaldi — also known as Strada Nuova — is arguably the most jaw-dropping street in Italy that most tourists walk past without knowing what it is. Its 16th-century palazzi, built as competitive status symbols by Genoese merchant princes, are UNESCO World Heritage listed and several are open to the public.
The Palaces of the Rolli
The Rolli were an official list of aristocratic mansions obliged to host foreign dignitaries visiting the Republic of Genoa. Walking Via Garibaldi today means strolling past Palazzo Rosso, Palazzo Bianco, and Palazzo Doria-Tursi — three civic museums housed in these very buildings and collectively known as the Musei di Strada Nuova.
Palazzo Rosso dazzles with frescoed ceilings and a rooftop terrace. Palazzo Bianco holds a superb collection of Flemish masters including works by Van Dyck, who spent years in Genoa and left his mark on an entire generation of local portraiture.
Practical Art-Hunting
A combined ticket covers all three Musei di Strada Nuova and costs around €9, representing exceptional value for the quality and quantity of art inside. Audio guides are available in English and add real depth to rooms that can otherwise feel overwhelming.
Twice a year, during the Rolli Days festival (usually May and October), dozens of private palazzi throw open their doors for free. If your dates align, rearrange everything to be here — queues form but move quickly and the interiors are extraordinary.
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