via Garibaldi

Walk the full length from one end to the other before doing anything else — get the full picture first, then go back to the palaces that interested you most

Palazzo Rosso, Palazzo Bianco, and Palazzo Tursi are the three main palaces open to the public — a combined ticket covers all three and is worth buying if you plan to go inside more than one

Inside Palazzo Tursi you can see Paganini's violin — the actual instrument, in a glass case, in a palace, on this street. Don't miss it

The Rolli Days festival happens twice a year, usually in May and October — many private palaces open their doors to the public for free. Check the dates before you book your trip if this interests you

The street is best in the early morning before the tour groups arrive — the light is lower, the crowds are thinner, and the scale of the architecture is easier to appreciate without fifty people in front of you

Photography tip: stand at the western end of the street and shoot east in the morning light — the perspective down the full length of the palazzo facades is the defining image of this street