From the Rolli to dry stone walls: UNESCO treasures in Liguria

From dry stone walls to caruggi, villages perched on rocks and natural areas, the UNESCO sites you cannot miss in Liguria

With its landscape filled with green hills and blue sea, its new streets and Genoese aristocratic residences, or its rural architecture with dry-stone walls, Liguria boasts numerous Unesco heritage sites, a unique treasure that belongs to all mankind, esteemed and envied throughout the world.

Porto Venere, Cinque Terre and the islands (Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto) 1997

The Cinque Terre, with its pastel-coloured villages Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Riomaggiore and Manarola, perched high on the rocks – with its rocky coastline high above the sea, crystal-clear waters, terraced slopes full of paths and vineyards and the Via dell’Amore, represent an extraordinary landscape, a natural picture that never ceases to amaze.
The long harbour filled with boats and colourful buildings, the Gothic church and the Byron cave in Porto Venere together with the islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto are a scene of absolute beauty.
This corner of the eastern Ligurian Riviera, recognised as a UNESCO heritage site in 1996, bears witness to an extraordinary ‘harmonious interaction between man and nature’, a wealth of exceptional cultural and environmental value.

https://www.portovenerecinqueterreisole.com

Genoa: the new streets and the system of Palazzi dei Rolli 2006

The historical centre of Genoa is an exceptional example of aristocratic streets and palaces of great architectural value. The Rolli system consists of more than 100 noble residences, 42 of which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. A precious treasure chest of art and culture, with authentic masterpieces ranging from the late Renaissance to the Baroque period. Located in the heart of La Superba, these ancient noble palaces are home to priceless works of art: evocative architecture, courtyards, gardens, statues, galleries and splendid ceilings frescoed by the greatest painters of the era.
In 1576, the Republic of Genoa established an official list (later called Rolli, hence the Palazzi dei Rolli) of prestigious Palazzi, obliging their owners to take turns hosting state visits. Depending on the rank of the visiting guest, a palace was chosen to host them: the higher the rank of nobility of the guest, the more sumptuous the palace had to be. The Rolli became a housing model for nobility throughout Europe.
Every year, Genoa celebrates these residences with the Rolli Days event: weekends during which the palaces open their doors and show their treasures to the public. An event that sets a record for visitors every time.

Beigua Park

Beigua Park, between Genoa and Savona, is the largest protected natural area in Liguria: a truly precious area that preserves and bears witness to the geological history of Liguria. The Park is a marvellous natural ‘terrace’, formed by mountains that overlook the sea and canyons that cross the valleys, an extraordinary ‘garden’ where the rocks, fauna and flora represent a treasure of inestimable environmental heritage.
In 2015, the park was recognised as a UNESCO site and included in the prestigious list of UNESCO Global Geoparks.
http://www.parcobeigua.it/index.php

Dry stone walls

Dry stone walls are a fundamental feature of the Ligurian landscape, an effective tool used to combat hydrogeological instability that have an unquestionable anthropological value.
Since 2018, they have been included in the list of intangible elements declared World Heritage by Unesco together with eight other European countries.
These constructions bear witness to the harmonious relationship between man and nature, and are now a hallmark of Ligurian rural architecture.
It is said that the total length of the Cinque Terre’s dry stone walls is comparable to the length of the Great Wall of China.