Twenty years of Genova's Rolli: Councillor Montanari on the UNESCO

Twenty years of Genova's Rolli: Councillor Montanari on the UNESCO site's value

The UNESCO site Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Rolli palaces marks its twentieth anniversary. Councillor for culture Giacomo Montanari argues that the designation should not be reduced to a tourist label or a mere economic asset: it must be perceived by the city as a shared resource to ensure its preservation and future.

The Rolli Days illustrate this approach in practice. In three days the event recorded more than 70,000 visits, with attendees from 92 Italian provinces, demonstrating broad participation while remaining strongly rooted in the local community.

Montanari highlights two main outcomes that show the initiative's effectiveness:

• Audience renewal: over 60% of participants are new at each edition, and more than half of attendees are Ligurian residents;
• Civic and scientific purpose: the Rolli Days were conceived as a conscious return of heritage to citizens, based on historical research and a network of specialists, rather than as a mass tourism event.

The site itself poses particular management challenges: some palaces are public, others private; some are regularly accessible, others usually closed. This variety requires tailored management models and the cooperation of owners to open normally private spaces for the public.

According to the councillor, valorisation must balance protection with territorial development. Heritage can support high-quality tourism routes and generate cultural employment, but this only happens when the community recognises the value of these places and actively engages.

Practical takeaways for visitors and professionals:

• Take advantage of Rolli Days to access palaces that are normally closed;
• Raise civic awareness about the UNESCO site's role in urban life;
• Support initiatives that link research, conservation and public access.