Rolli Days in Genoa: over 70,000 visitors at the spring edition

Rolli Days in Genoa: strong turnout for historic palaces

Over the recent weekend the Rolli Days attracted a large audience, reaffirming the event's importance in promoting Genoa's monumental heritage. The spring edition, themed "Sharing is protecting" and marking the UNESCO recognition's twentieth anniversary, recorded more than 70,000 visits.

Statistics show renewed interest from domestic and international visitors, with a notable share of new audiences and strong participation by young adults aged 26 to 35.

Highlights of the edition

• Total visitors: over 70,000.
• First-time attendees: about 60% of visitors were new.
• Origin: visitors came from 92 Italian provinces and from abroad.
• Newly opened sites: the Badia di Sant'Andrea, a monastery complex in Cornigliano, and the Grotta Pavese Doria, a rare Renaissance polymaterial grotto.
• Most visited residences: Palazzo Rosso, Palazzo Bianco, Palazzo Nicolosio Lomellino and Palazzo Tobia Pallavicino.

Valuing the monuments and engaging the public

The programme focused on special openings, interpretative activities and initiatives aimed at young people to make historic palaces more accessible and to promote care for the heritage. More than one hundred science communicators and humanities professionals guided visitors, supporting a more informed and participatory experience.

Side events such as "Rolli Live" and the Open Piano – A piano for all initiative, which placed pianos in public spaces and palaces, enlivened the historic streets and offered informal moments of cultural participation.

Why this matters

The outcome highlights how investing in research, conservation and public outreach for monumental sites can strengthen local identity and attract a diverse range of visitors. The Rolli Days model aims to turn heritage into a driver for cultural and sustainable tourism, engaging younger generations and cultural professionals.

For those interested in exploring the Palazzi dei Rolli and other historical treasures, recurring initiatives like this provide a real chance to visit sites that are usually closed or less accessible and to deepen knowledge of Genoa's monumental heritage.