This year marks the 20th anniversary of the inscription of Genoa: Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
To celebrate this anniversary, Fondazione Santagata, on behalf of the Municipality of Genoa, is cuarting a series of events from March to November 2026, aimed at fostering shared reflection on the value of the site and on the future prospects for its protection and enhancement.
The program culminates in the “Genoa Heritage Week” – scheduled from 23 to 27 November 2026, held in collaboration with the Municipality of Genoa and the University of Genoa.
Preparatory Events | March – October 2026
Seminar and workshop
Heritage Impact Assessment for World Heritage Sites: the case of Genoa
March 11, 4:30–6:30 PM
→ A discussion on the impact of UNESCO sites and strategies for the conservation and enhancement of Genoa’s heritage.
Round table
When cultural heritage comes to life: accessibility, interpretation and awareness.
May 27, 2:30–4:30 PM
→ A round table on tools and practices to make cultural heritage more accessible.
Workshop with schools
HEY!Genova – Young Board Day with high schools for the World Heritage Site
October 16, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
→ Students work in groups on project proposals for Genoa’s UNESCO World Heritage Site
Public presentation
Voice to the city: presentation of the 2026–2030 Management Plan
June 11, 5:00 PM
→ A collective, participatory presentation of the city’s new Management Plan, with contributions from 10 local ambassadors
Heritage night walk
Genoa Night Heritage: heritage and culture as a driver of the night-time economy
June 11, 6:30 PM
→ A Heritage Night Walk through the historic center, focusing on the role of culture in the city’s night-time activities.
Genova Heritage Week | 23-27 novembre 2026
Round table and report presentation
Living Heritage: Cultural Tourism as a Driver of Sustainable Development
November 24, 11:30 AM–1:00 PM
→ Round table addressing the relationship between Wold Heritage, tourism and sustainable development, starting from the results of the Mirabilia Report.
International conference
World Heritage as a Platform for International Cooperation
November 24, 3:30–6:00 PM
→ Through a comparison of national and international experiences, the event explores heritage as a place of balance between protection and transformation, between urban life and conservation, between the local dimension and the global horizon.
Evening keynote
Heritage as a right: access, participation and the future
November 24, 8:30 PM
→ An event dedicated to the role of heritage as a cultural and social right, with a keynote speech by Tomaso Montanari.
Guided tour and Manifesto signing
Safeguarding Heritage: From the Roots to the Manifesto
November 23, 4:30 PM–7:00 PM
→ Special visit to the State Archives of Genoa and symbolic signing of the Manifesto by the City of Genoa.
Scientific conference
Ihabiting World Heritage: universal values and local values compared
November 25, 9:00 AM–5:30 PM
→ A scientific exploration of living/dwelling as both a historical dimension and a contemporary need of architectural and urban heritage.
Scientific conference
Understanding heritage: the Rolli in a European context
November 26, 9:00 AM–6:30 PM / November 27, 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
→ The conference offers a reading of the system of Palazzi dei Rolli within a broader network of practices of representation, hospitality and self-representation of power in early modern Europe.