The capital of Liguria is Italy’s largest seaport, home of pesto and foccacia. Genoa is also famous for its old town, palaces and lively squares. Located about an hour away from some of Italy’s most beloved tourist hotspots (Cinque Terre and Portofino), you’ll find Genoa, a special little gem of a port city that has miraculously survived the clutches of mass tourism seen elsewhere in Liguria. Cue the angelic harp music.
GENOA
Truly – Genoa, what a relief, what a surprise! What at first glance may appear to be another pretty Italian city is in fact a humble, secret-laden powerhouse with mountains of cool hidden in plain sight: from sumptuous palaces and covert speakeasies to the most breathtaking of viewpoints.
Getting to Genoa is really easy: Christopher Columbus Airport is located in Sestri Ponente and is connected to the center by public transport. The maritime stations connect Genoa and the main Mediterranean ports. The railway lines are a convenient and efficient solution not only for reaching the capital of the Liguria region but also for traveling within it: the railway branches cover the entire Genoese territory from east to west. Finally, there are four motorways that allow you to reach Genoa by car: A12, A10, A26 and A7.
WHAT TO SEE
- Piazza de Ferrari
- Palazzi dei Rolli: have been recognized as UNESCO World Heritage since 2006, one of the premiere must-sees in the city
- Cathedral of San Lorenzo
- Botteghe Storiche: protected historical shops that have been open for over 70 years and in some cases.
- Via XX Settembre: one of the main shopping streets in Genoa
- Palazzo Reale
- Palazzo Ducale: is the former residence of the Doges, and today a premiere cultural venue in Genoa.
- Old Port: looks a lot different than it used to. Redesigned in 1992 by Genoa-born architect Renzo Piano.
DID YOU SAY PESTO?
Genoa is the home of pesto, the city’s most famous sauce, which is made here like nowhere else with its blend of olive oil, basil, pine nuts and sometimes garlic. The basil is grown in the town’s greenhouses using a technique that has been improved over generations. The other great product of this Italian town is focaccia, delicious bread with salt, olive oil and sometimes herbs and ingredients such as tomatoes.
You can eat real focaccia in those places, just remember bakeries are closed on Sundays in the centre of Genoa!
- Forno di ghia
- Sansó
- Focacceria genovese
- Antico forno di vico casana
THE AQUARIUM
The Genoa Aquarium welcomes you to one of the largest marine parks in Europe. Inaugurated in 1992, this aquarium is home to a large number of sharks, penguins, jellyfish, seahorses, tropical fish, seals, and many other animals. Ready to marvel at their many shapes and colors?
If you like dolphins, the cetacean hall awaits you. You’ll see these friendly mammals up close through a 24-meter-long glass pane. Entrance fee and more information here…
