Genoa is a historical port city in northern Italy, the capital of the Region of Liguria. Genoa was the European Capital of Culture for 2004.Venice, Rome, Milan, and Florence are of course the most known and admired towns in Italy. When moving to north-western Italy (Milan, Turin) it is nevertheless absolutely worth staying for a couple of days or a weekend in Genoa. The city is a good base to explore the Italian Riviera and world famous places like Portofino and the Cinque Terre.
Among the marvels of Italy, it will take some digging to find the beauties of Genova, but it is worth visiting it.The fact is the more you stay the more you will enjoy and appreciate the town. A place where you discover daily new surprises, even if you stay for years. The city may be less known by major tourist operators, but its splendor is often hidden inside the narrow streets of the historical center, called "vicoli".
PLACE TO VISIT
Cathedral of St. Lawrence - The cathedral was founded probably in the 5th or 6th century AD, devoted to St. Sirus, bishop of Genoa. Excavations under the pavement and in the area in front of today's façade have brought to light walls and pavements of Roman age as well as pre-Christian sarcophagi, suggesting the existence of a cemetery in the site. Later a church devoted to the Twelve Apostles was built, which was in turn flanked and replaced by a new cathedral dedicated to St. Lawrence martyr, in Romanesque style. Money came from the successful enterprises of the Genoese fleets in the Crusades.
San Donato - is a church in Genoa. It dates from the 12th century and is in Romanesque style. It became a parish under archbishop Siro il Porcello, and was consecrated on May 1, 1189. After the bombardment of 1684 it was restored several times, being again consecrated on December 4, 1892. Other restorations in 1946-1951 have kept its Romanesque appearance.
Sant'Agostino - is a church in the historical center of Genoa, northern Italy. It is today deconsecrated, sometimes used for representations of the nearby Teatro della Tosse.The interior has a nave and two aisles divided by ogival arches supported by robust columns with cubic capitals. The church has also two cloister now included into a museum.
The Oratorio di San Giacomo della Marina - is a small chapel or prayer-house at the dockside in Genoa. Erected in 1453, the oratory was rebuilt and decorated in the 1600s. Twelve large canvases illustrating the saint and patron of the battle against the Moors, Saint James, were completed by major genoese Baroque artists.
Santo Stefano - is a church in Genoa, northern Italy. Located on a hill overlooking the central Via XX Settembre, it is one of the most outstanding examples of Romanesque architecture in the city. The church had been closed for much of the 20th century, until the restoration of the year 1946-1955, when it was reconsecrated.
San Torpete - is a church in central Genoa, northern Italy, dedicated to Saint Torpes. It was founded in the 11th century by local merchants. It was rebuilt in the 18th century under designs conceived by Giovanni Antonio Ricca.
Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato - is a Catholic cathedral in Genoa. t is named Vastato because the area where it was built was outside the walls of the city, in an area where houses had been demolished (devastated) for defensive reasons. In Latin, vastinium referred to a safety belt within the protective bastions.
Santa Maria di Castello - the cloister of the domenican order, the museum and the summer cathedral offer a lot of treasures and exploring them is free during the opening hours of the church.
Piazza De Ferrari - is the main square of Genoa. Situated in the heart of the city between the historical and the modern center, Piazza De Ferrari is renowned for its fountain, which was restored in recent years along with a major restyling of the square.
The Palace of the Doges - is a historical building in Genoa. Once the home of the Doges of Genos, it is now a museum and a centre for cultural events and arts exhibitions. It is situated in the heart of the city, with two different entrances and facades, the main one on Piazza Matteotti, and the second one on Piazza De Ferrari.
Spianata Castelletto - is a nice belvedere where one can have a pleasant view of the city and of the seaport. It can be reached by public lift from Piazza della Nunziata or on foot from that very same square.
Via Garibaldi - also known as Via Aurea and Strada Nuova, Golden Street and New Street with very impressive baroque buildings. Some similar buildings are also found in Via Balbi.
The Old Harbour - next to the Aquarium, is an entertainment area with museums, cinemas, cafés and also a beautiful promenade along the sea.
Palazzo Rosso - Situated in Via Garibaldi, it is one of the most important picture galleries of the city, along with the galleries of Palazzo Bianco and Palazzo Doria Tursi. Palazzo Rosso was designed by the architect Pietro Antonio Corradi and was built between 1671 and 1677.
Palazzo Bianco - It contains the Gallery of the White Palace, one of the greater city art galleries, and together with those of its neighbors Palazzo Rosso and Palazzo Doria Tursi, it forms part of a cluster of museums at that end of the street.
The Cimitero monumentale di Staglieno - is an extensive cemetery located on a hillside in Genoa, Italy, famous for its monumental sculpture. Covering an area of more than a square kilometre, it one of the largest cemeteries in Europe.
The Edoardo Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art - in Genoa is an important collection of Asian art, one of the most significative collections in Europe and in Italy, along with the museums of Venice and Rome.The exhibition shows many objects and artworks from Japan and China, like sculptures, porcelain pieces, bronze vessels, prints, masks, Samurai armors and helmets.
The Aquarium of Genoa - is the largest aquarium in Italy and the second largest in Europe. Built for Expo 92, the Aquarium of Genoa is an educational, scientific and cultural centre. Its mission is to educate and raise public awareness as regards conservation, management and responsible use of aquatic environments. It welcomes over 1.2 million visitors a year.
The Villa Durazzo-Pallavicini - is a villa with notable 19th century park in the English romantic style and a small botanical garden.The park contains two ponds, a dozen notable structures, various statues, and an extensive grotto. The grotto represents a Dantesque Inferno, with walkways and subterranean lake through which the visitor may ascend to Paradise. In former years, visitors could explore the grotto by boat. Structures include a Coffee House in the shape of triumphal arch, Rustic House, Madonna's Chapel, Mausoleum of the Captain, Temple of Diana, Flower House, Turkish Temple, Obelisk, and Chinese Pagoda.
HOW TO REACH
By plane - The Aeroporto di Genova - Cristoforo Colombo provides several daily flights from other major European cities such as Rome, London, Munich, Paris and Madrid. From the airport it is fairly easy to rent a car or take a shuttle (bus no. 100, also called Volabus) to the city center.
By train - Genoa can be easy travelled to by train from Milan, Turin, Rome, Tuscany (Pisa, Livorno and Florence (changing train in Pisa or Viareggio)) and France (There is a direct train connecting with Nice). There are two main train stations in Genoa, Brignole and Principe. Brignole serves most local routes and provides access to many bus lines. Principe serves local as well as long distance trains and many trains from Milan and beyond will only stop at this station.
By car - Coming from Milan you can reach Genoa via the A7-E62 (approx. 145 km). Mind though that the last part, from Serravalle to Genoa, is incredibly twisty, making you wonder if you’re still on the highway or accidentally have taken a wrong turn into a motordrome. It’s therefore advisable to take an alternative route, turning off the A7 at the deviation near Tortona and heading on the A26/A7, following Genova, Ventimiglia, Savona, Voltri; making it a longer (+20 km), but certainly safer and more comfortable trip, unless you want to spice up you journey and observe how (some) Italians drive. The same highway is less twisty northbound.
By bus - Genoa can be reached via Eurolines coach from many European countries. Long distance buses also run from Nice.
By boat - Genoa is an important port, and has many ferry services. Grandi Navi Veloci crosses from Barcelona weekly, and takes about eighteen hours. It also offers a weekly crossing to Tangiers, which takes around forty-six.
