Palaces of Light and Stone. Genoa and its Rolli

In the series dedicated to the interiors of Italian residences, which launched in 2009 with Case di Torino and continued over the years with Case di Torino Due, Case di Genova, Case di Milano, Living in Portofino, Case di Genova e della Riviera, Living in Rome, Lombard Villas and Stately Homes, Case del Gavi e dintorni, Case di Napoli, House-Museums in Lombardy and The Period Mansions of Milan, the focus is once again on Genoa with a stunning selection of impressive houses in the heart of the city. Behind the austere entrance doors of the historic centre lies a vertical world of noble mansions, guardians of centuries of history, art and culture. This volume features twenty-four palaces, many of which are registered in the Rolli – the official lists of the Republic of Genoa that, since 1576, selected the residences intended to welcome visiting kings, ambassadors and dignitaries – a unique system in Europe, now recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Thanks to the photographs of an architect-photographer and the essays by authors with different backgrounds but a shared passion, the reader is accompanied on a journey that is not only aesthetic, but also narrative and moving. This is not just a book of photographs, but a voyage to discover the most intimate and captivating side of Genoa: a city that never stops telling its story.

Francesca Guicciardi was born in Genoa but, after graduating in Law, she moved to Milan. Her lively and sociable personality drew her to the commercial sphere, initially to a bank and later to publishing and communications, gaining solid experience that she now leverages in her profession as a real estate broker. Always an avid reader, a lover of all forms of written and visual narrative, she enthusiastically participated in the creation of this book, which recounts and pays homage to the extraordinary beauty of her hometown.

Valerio Villoresi is a chartered accountant with a profound passion for art and culture. He serves as Vice-president of the Villoresi Poggi Foundation and as CEO of the Dario Mellone Foundation. The author of numerous books in his professional sphere, between 2014 and 2024 he edited a series of books dedicated to his illustrious ancestors: the poetess Emilia Villoresi, the pilot Gigi Villoresi and the engineer Eugenio Villoresi.

Andrea Livio Volpato, born in Milan, graduated in Architecture in 1993, putting to good use the interdisciplinary creativity that has always made him stand out. Photography over the years has transformed from a passion into a true life companion: he has participated in numerous competitions and exhibitions, receiving awards, reviews and publications. He works as a freelance architect, designer and photographer. He travels frequently, while also cultivating his passion for cars, the cinema, music and reading.