Genoa: Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli
Genoa: Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which includes a number of streets and palaces in the center of Genoa, in Northwestern Italy. On 13 July 13, 2006, forty-two of the 163 palaces originally included in one the five public list called "Rolli" (Italian for "lists") were selected as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO special committee meeting in Vilnius (Lithuania). The site includes an ensemble of Renaissance and Baroque palaces along the so-called  ‘new streets’ ("Strade Nuove"), which offer an extraordinary variety of different solutions, achieving universal value in adapting to the particular characteristics of the site and to the requirements of a specific social and economic organization. They also offer an original example of a public network of private residences designated to host state visits. On January 20, 2007, UNESCO unveiled a plaque in via Garibaldi, the former Strada Nuova, explaining the reasons for inclusion of the Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli within the World Heritage Sites: Some of the Palazzi dei Rolli are used today as  public buildings, museums, offices and private residences. Among the palaces open to the public, Palazzo Rosso, Palazzo Bianco and Palazzo Doria Tursi jointly constitute the Strada Nuova Museums located in via Garibaldi. The "Rolli" of Genoa. The "Rolli di Genova" - or, more precisely, the "Rolli degli alloggiamenti pubblici di Genova" (Italian for "Lists of the public lodgings of Genoa") were the official lists at the time of the Republic of Genoa of the private palaces and mansions, belonging to the most distinguished Genoese families, which - if chosen through a public lottery - were obliged to host on behalf of the Government  the most notable visitors during their State visit to the Republic. Later, these palaces hosted many famous visitors to Genoa during their Grand Tour, a cultural itinerary around Italy. Today, "Palazzi dei Rolli" as a collective name represents the set of the most prestigious palaces of the historical center of Genoa, especially along the so-called "Strade Nuove", the "New Streets" built by the Genoese aristocracy at the peak of Genoa's economic power in the 16th and 17th century (Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, formerly "Strada Nuova" or "Via Aurea", Via Cairoli, formerly "Strada Nuovissima", and via Balbi, now the home  of the University of Genoa). History. Between the first half of the 16th century and the first half of the 17th century, the Genoese nobility started a careful town planning to transform the existing medieval city and initiate a sizeable urban expansion to the North. The move to expand the antique palaces and to build new sumptuous ones was driven by the extraordinary wealth that came into the city through prosperous financing activities towards several European powers. In particular, the Genoese aristocracy financed the expensive undertakings of the Spanish Crown, such as the mercenary army that Spain kept in Flanders  from 1566 to the peace of Westphalia in 1648. The ruling class of Genoa, mixing nobility of blood with new mercantile wealth, sought to underpin their prestige by the construction of grand city palaces and suburban villas of unusual splendor. The "Rolli" - or, more precisely, the "Rolli degli alloggiamenti pubblici di Genova" (Italian for "Lists of the public lodgings of Genoa") were official lists established in 1576 by the Genoese Senate - an aristocratic institution which took prominence as a result of the oligarchic reforms of the Prince and Admiral Andrea Doria - to determine the palaces available to the Government to  ensure that the Republic of Genoa could offer appropriate lodging to the most notable guests who routinely visited the city, such as princes, kings, diplomats or religious authorities. The fact that not one single palace was chosen, but many, was a sign that the authorities of the Republic of Genoa considered the whole city as a "republican royal palace". The Palazzi dei Rolli were subdivided on the basis of their prestige into three categories - with size, beauty and importance as main criteria for selecting whether each palace was suitable to accommodate cardinals, princes and viceroys, feudal lords, ambassadors or governors . Only three palaces ere deemed suitable to accommodate the highest dignitaries, such as Popes, Emperors, Kings and most important Cardinals and Princes: the Palazzo Doria Spinola in Salita Santa Caterina, the Palazzo Grimaldi Doria Tursi in today's via Garibaldi and the Palazzo Lercari Parodi, also in the current Via Garibaldi. The "Rolli" or "Lists" preserved to this day were five: 1576 (including 52 palaces); 1588 (111); 1599 (150); 1614 (96); and 1664 (95). In total, there were 162 palaces included at least once in one of these official lists. World Heritage Site. Le "Strade Nuove and the system of  the Palazzi dei Rolli" became a World Heritage Site in 2006. The criteria for this selection were explained by the UNESCO as follows: The "Palazzi dei Rolli" included in the World Heritage Site. These are the forty-two palaces currently included by UNESCO in the World Heritage Site: The "Palazzi dei Rolli" not included in the UNESCO list. The following Palazzi dei Rolli are still preserved but, due to partitioning or altered use, have not been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site: Rolli Days. In 2009, after the "Palazzi dei Rolli" were recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site , the Municipality of Genoa started the so-called "Rolli Days", dedicated to the free visit of both public and private buildings. Each time a different itinerary is proposed, with art students, architects and professional guides offering guided tours, almost all of them for free. The "Rolli Days" happen twice a year, normally during a weekend in May and one in September. An exception to this rule was made to mark the 10th anniversary of UNESCO's recognition in 2016, when three weekends were dedicated to the "Rolli Days" in April, May and October. The number of notable buildings open to  the public during the "Rolli Days" has been increasing over time. More recently, also palaces not originally belonging to the Rolli system (as an example, some historical buildings of the University of Genoa), suburban villas and churches have been added to the tour offerings. Palazzo Grillo seat of the De André Foundation. One of the Rolli palaces - Palazzo Grillo in Piazza delle Vigne - was intended by the property to host the Foundation named after Fabrizio De André, famous songwriter from Genoa. Given the time required for the restoration of the building, the inauguration of the facility is scheduled for 2019 , the tenth anniversary of his death in 2009. Inside the home, located in the centre of Genoa, will be a café and / or a restaurant, an auditorium, public rooms (classrooms and information) devoted to the study of the Genoese school of singer-songwriters, the top floor of the residence could be a meeting place between guests. FAI is in the process of completing the rehabilitation and restoration of Villa Saluzzo Bombrini, in the Albaro quarter, known as "Il Paradiso" and inhabited in his youth by De André. Genoa: Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli Genoa