Many important "treasures" that have become UNESCO world heritage sites stand in Genoa's old town and these are completely surrounded by modern buildings. The Complex of the Palazzi dei Rolli is considered to be the earliest European example of a urban planning, adapted to a specific socio-economic organization. These Palaces are located all along the so called Strade Nuove
and were meant to host very important people from all over the world; each building was registered in a specific register, called Rollo and whenever any important person went to Genoa on a state visit, have been hosted in one building randomly chosen among the ones registered in the Rollo.
People of extraordinary importance have been hosted in the most luxury and elegant Palace, that had precious decorations, refined staircases, wonderful courtyards, elaborated porticoes and an amazing gardens.
There are forty-two Palazzi dei Rolli and this site has become part of the UNESCO world heritage list; the Palaces, went back to their former beauty after they had been completely renovated and are well known as Genoa's monumental landmark.