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Discover Mainz, the beautiful wine capital of Germany

Discover Mainz, the beautiful wine capital of Germany

31/10/2025 / / 0 Comments

Our first day in Germany, and the pick for our first stop on our drive to Koblenz, where we were staying, was Mainz, a short 35-minute drive from Frankfurt Airport. We weren’t disappointed. Discover Mainz, the beautiful wine capital of Germany, with us.

Sitting on the left bank of the Rhine River, Mainz is the official wine capital of Germany and is surrounded by the largest wine-growing area in the country.

The city has more to offer than just wine, though. It has an old city filled with historic buildings and monuments—one of the reasons why we picked the city as our first stop.

Our top things to do in Mainz

Spend time in the Marktplatz

As with any medieval city, the Marktplatz is the hub. Mainz was no exception. It was still early in the day; however, locals had started to emerge, gathering at the cafes in the square for coffee.

Discover Mainz, the beautiful wine capital of Germany. Colourful buildings in the Marktplatz of Mainz in Germany
The colourful buildings in the Marktplatz

A blend of coloured and decorated gabled houses stands opposite the most distinctive building in the square, the Mainz Cathedral.

Marktbrunnen Fountain

We took a closer look at the Marktbrunnen, an ornate three-columned fountain built, like the cathedral, of red sandstone, before we visited inside the cathedral. The fountain sits to one side, in a corner of the square and was built in the 16th century.

Marktbrunnen, the ornate three-columned fountain standing in the Markplatz of Mainz, Germany
Marktbrunnen, the ornate three-columned fountain

The fountain was commissioned by the elector Albert of Mainz and crafted by the Mainz sculptor Hans Backoffen. The Marktbrunnen is one of the first Renaissance fountains in Germany.

The Prince-Elector had the fountain built to commemorate his successful survival of the “Peasants’ War” of 1525 and to seal the deal with the adoption of the 31 articles of grievance that the peasants demanded from their ruler.

Mainz Cathedral

St Martin, the Romanesque cathedral, is over a 1000 years old. The red sandstone building with its six distinguishing towers, including an octagonal tower, dominates the Altstadt.

Mainz Cathedral, Germany
Mainz Cathedral

Built in 975 AD, the interior of the cathedral is as impressive as the exterior. The interior has a mix of Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque architecture and ornate tombs of prince-electors and archbishops. The small, well-manicured cloister is also accessible to the public.

The interior of Mainz Cathderal in the German city of Mainz
The cloister of Mainz Cathedral in the German city of Mainz
The pretty cloister

The cathedral also has a museum section with religious artefacts and items from the treasury.

The Gutenberg Museum

The Gutenberg Museum honours the inventor of the printing press, Johannes Gutenberg

Instead of visiting the museum, we opted to explore more of Mainz’s outdoor attractions; however, when researching things to do in Mainz, the museum was highlighted as a great place for book lovers and history enthusiasts. It has two of the 49 remaining Gutenberg Bibles, as well as a working reproduction of Gutenberg’s press.

In 1946, the city’s university, which was founded in 1477, was renamed Johannes Gutenberg University to honour the publisher.

Walk a little further to Schillerplatz

Next, we walked to another significant square, Schillerplatz. Lined with notable palaces, the square is named after the poet Friedrich Schiller, whose statue stands in the centre.

Another notable feature in the square is the Fastnachtsbrunnen fountain standing in the centre of the square. The fountain is decorated with 200 quirky bronze statues celebrating the Mainz Carnival, which starts in the square on 11 November every year.

Schillerplatz in Mainz, Germany
Schillerplatz is surrounded by beautiful, noble houses with the Fastnachtsbrunnen fountain in its centre

With its colourful garden beds and benches under shady trees, the square is the perfect spot to relax and take a breather when exploring the city in the summer.

Old Town (Altstadt)

Mainz’s Old Town is a great place to explore. It’s full of narrow streets lined with half-timbered houses and some lovely squares.

St Stephan’s Church

St. Stephen’s Church is located above the old town. We walked up to this Gothic church, renowned for its stunning blue stained glass windows. The nine windows, created between 1978 and 1985, depict scenes from the Old Testament and fill the space with a blue glow.

Disappointingly, the church was closed to visitors when we arrived, and we were unable to visit inside. Instead, we enjoyed some of the views over Mainz from the church’s terrace.

Mainz Rhine Promenade

After exploring the sights around the old town, we strolled to the promenade alongside the Rhine River. It’s a beautiful spot to take in the scenery and watch the river and cargo boats go by.

Our conclusion

Mainz is unquestionably a town we would have liked to have had the time to explore further. It’s a city full of history, culture, monuments and landmarks, coupled with picturesque scenery.

A visit to Mainz is a great way to start your exploration of the scenic Rhine Valley vineyards and Castle route.

In case you’re interested

We stayed for several nights in Koblenz to explore the historic city, situated at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. Read about this fascinating city through the link below.

Introducing fascinating Koblenz, the one German city you must visit.

Introducing fascinating Koblenz, the one German city you must visit

Introducing fascinating Koblenz, the one German city you must visit

25/10/2025 / / 2 Comments

With a long history, scenic landscape, and surrounded by mountain ranges and vineyards, the city was the first stop on our driving tour of Germany. Introducing fascinating Koblenz, the one German city you must visit.

Koblenz sits conveniently at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers. This makes it the perfect city from which to explore the greater Rhine and Moselle valleys.

Koblenz

Koblenz, founded by the Romans and with a history spanning over 2,000 years of various rulers, has evolved into a treasure trove for its visitors.

Our top things to do in Koblenz

Jesuitenplatz

In the heart of Koblenz’s Altstadt is a square named for the Jesuit order. The order was part of the city’s community for almost 200 years, until they were expelled from the city in 1773. The Baroque building and portal on one side of the square, formerly the Jesuit College, is the Town Hall.

Jesuitenplatz, Koblenz, Germany
Jesuitenplatz

Take some time to look out for the small Jesuit Church built in the 1610s, which stands quietly in the corner of the square. It’s easy to miss!

Visit the History Column in Görresplatz Square

Another lovely square in Koblenz’s old town is Görresplatz. Surrounded by beautiful buildings, the square’s main highlight is the History Column.

The History Column in Görresplatz Square, Koblenz, Germany
The History Column in Görresplatz Square

The fountain was built in 1992, marking the 2000th anniversary of the city. A column recounts the city’s detailed history. The scenes depicted on it span from Roman times to the Middle Ages, the Electorate (see the section on the Electorate Palace below), the French occupation, and up to the present day.

Deutsche Eck Monument

Introducing fascinating Koblenz, the one German city you must visit
The Deutsches Eck Monument on the riverfront in Koblenz

The Deutsche Eck Monument celebrates two important features of Koblenz: the spot where the Moselle and Rhine Rivers meet, and the large statue of Kaiser Wilhelm I. It pays tribute to the German emperor, who was the first head of state of a united Germany.

Basilica of St Castor

The Basilica’s twin towers peek out from between the trees a short distance from the Deutsches Eck. It’s the oldest church in Koblenz.

Basilica of St Castor in Koblenz, Germany
Basilica of St Castor

Most of the architecture dates back to the 12th century. Like other parts of the city, some sections of the Basilica were damaged during World War II, but they were reconstructed to their original condition.

Wander around the pleasant gardens in the complex behind the Church building.

The gardens of the Basilica of St Castor in Koblenz, Germany
The gardens of the Basilica of St Castor

Florinsmarkt Square

Another Altstadt square to pass through is Florinsmarkt Square. Formerly the political and economic centre of the city, it houses four historic buildings. Unfortunately, three were in a state of disrepair, boarded up and in need of major renovation when we visited. The only building of significance which has survived the times is the old shopping and dancing hall. It stands proudly at the back of the square.

The shopping and dancing hall building in Florinsmarkt, Koblenz, Germany
The shopping and dancing hall building in Florinsmarkt

Under the tower clock, there’s a small inlay of a knight. The knight’s eyes move back and forth in time with the clock’s pendulum and sticks out its tongue every full and half hour. Legend says he is reminiscent of the robber baron Johann Lutter von Kobern, who was executed on the Florinsmarkt in 1536. Apparently, he twisted his eyes on the scaffold and stuck his tongue out at the spectators.

Walk along the riverfront promenade

A walk along Konrad Adenauer-Ufer Kastorhof, gazing up at the fortress on the hill across the river, is the perfect way to savour some downtime in Koblenz.

At the far end, away from Deutsches Eck, you’ll see the imposing Prussian Government Building. It cuts a striking imperial presence on the waterfront. Inside are monumental staircases with vaulted halls and outstanding stonework.

The former Prussian Government Building in Koblenz, Germany
The former Prussian Government Building

Today, the building houses the Presidium of the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw). The southern part has housed the Koblenz Higher Regional Court since 1993.

Ehrenbreitstein Fortress

High above on the right bank of the Rhine, looking across over the city, is Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. There has been a fortress here since the 11th century.

Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, Koblenz, Germany
Ehrenbreitstein Fortress on the hill overlooking Koblenz

After hundreds of years of changing rulers and destruction, the current fortress was reconstructed by the Prussians and is now the second largest in Europe.

The best way to access the fortress is by taking the scenic cable car ride from the Konrad Adenauer-Ufer Kastorhof promenade. A bonus is the spectacular scenery over Koblenz on the way to and from the fortress.

Views from Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, Koblenz, Germany
Views from Ehrenbreitstein Fortress

The fortress buildings are now the site of the Koblenz State Museum. Even if you’re not interested in museums, it’s worth crossing the river for the panoramic view of the city. There’s also a wooden viewing platform which gives expansive views of the city and the rivers.

Electoral Palace

We found the groundkeepers hard at work tending the gardens of the grand building, which is not far from the riverfront promenade.

Prince Clemens Wenceslaus built the Electoral Palace (you’ll find his statue on the street leading to the Palace) over nearly 20 years from 1777 to 1793. The Palace was taken over by the Prussians in 1815 after the Prince was forced to leave Koblenz after the French Revolution. For the next 100 years, it was a residence for Prussian royals for 100 years.

The Electoral Palace, Koblenz, Germany
The Electoral Palace

The building was damaged by a bombing during WWII and rebuilt to its original structure, but it became evident as we moved closer that the building was abandoned. Paint was peeling from the facade, and it no longer looked as majestic as close-up.

One of the groundsmen approached us as we peered through the windows to ascertain the state of the interior. He indicated that we could walk through an entrance from which we could access the gardens on the other side.

The riverfront gardens of the Electoral Palace in Koblenz, Germany
The riverfront gardens of the Electoral Palace

While the building was indeed in a state of disrepair, we are thankful for the encounter with a groundsman who found us peering through the windows into the building. He indicated that we could walk through an entrance into a hallway, from which we could access the beautifully terraced gardens in front of the river

Visit a biergarten

On a hot summer day, after visiting the sights around the city, there is nothing better than enjoying the river breezes while sampling local beer at the biergarten on the Koblenz riverfront. It’s the perfect place from which to watch the riverboats cruise by, people-watch, and have a banter with the locals.

Where we stayed

We booked a charming apartment in the heart of the Altstadt, which was within walking distance of all sights and attractions and close to the river.

The apartment was spacious for the two of us, tastefully decorated, and featured a balcony. Our host met us on-site to provide access and assistance to the garage. The “icing on the cake” was the bottle of local wine that our host had generously left for us to enjoy. A lovely welcome gift for our first night in Germany!

Things to do around Koblenz

Drive the Rhine Castle route. Read more about the highlights of our drive along one of Germany’s most scenic roads through the link below:

You’ll love driving the scenic Rhine Castle and Romantic Rhine route.

You’ll love driving the scenic Rhine Castle and Romantic Rhine route

21/10/2025 / / 2 Comments

Fresh off a morning arrival on our flight into Frankfurt, we hopped into our car and headed north. We were driving the scenic Rhine Castle and Romantic Rhine route. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed route is divided into two parts.

Driving the scenic Rhine Castle and Romantic Rhine route
The Rhine Castle route

We would drive the first half to Koblenz and stay there for a couple of days before completing the second half to Bonn. Koblenz, situated at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers in the Upper Rhine Valley, is one of Germany’s oldest cities. The Mitterhein wine region also runs between Bingen and Bonn.

Driving the scenic Rhine Castle and Romantic Rhine route

The drive from Bingen to Koblenz

Dotted with over 40 castles, the route is also part of the Rhine Valley wine region. The city of Mainz, approximately a 90-minute drive from Frankfurt, serves as the gateway to the wine region, while the Castle route begins from the town of Bingen. Bingen is a sleepy town with a lovely main street with cafes and restaurants. We stopped to have lunch there before continuing.

From Bingen onwards is a real treat for anyone wanting to drive this route. The road winds its way alongside the river while riverboats slip gently past. Along the way, there are castles and fortresses on high peaks or set lower amongst the vineyards on both sides of the river. While it isn’t practical to visit all the castles, nor are many open to the public, it was fun driving along, spotting them all. The drive between Bingen and Koblenz should only take an hour; however, to enjoy the scenery, making short stops at designated viewing points and allowing yourself a detour to a castle or two on the way, you should allow at least two to three hours.

Phililppsburg Castle in Marksburg, Rhine Castle route, Germany
The fairytale Philippsburg Castle in Marksburg on the Rhine Castle route

With so many castles and options, we strategically chose a few spots to look out for on the route.

  • Burg Reichenstein
  • Sankt Goar (Rheinfels Castle), from where you can look across to the Lorelei
  • At Boppard, we stopped to look across the river to Sterrenberg Castle
  • After Boppard spotted Marksburg Castle
  • Looked out for Stozenfels Castle just before arriving in Koblenz

A visit to Schonberg Castle

A castle that wasn’t on our list, but we couldn’t resist visiting after seeing it perched on the hillside from afar, was Schonberg Castle. A short distance off the main road in the town of Oberwesel, we wound our way up the hill to the castle’s car park.

Entrance to Schoneberg Castle
Outside Schonburg Castle walls

The castle, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site, was built in the 12th century; however, there are records of a dwelling on the site in 900 AD. From the car park, it’s a couple of minutes walk to the small arched entrance into the cobbled carriage path and inside the castle walls, from where a narrower walkway continues into the castle courtyard.

Schonburg Castle courtyard and entrance
Schonburg Castle courtyard and entrance

The Dukes of Schonburg and their families lived in the castle from the 12th century until 1689, when much of it was destroyed by troops during the Nine Years’ War. Partially reconstructed in the late 19th century, it wasn’t until the town purchased it in 1950 that it was completely revived.

The castle is now a 4-star hotel, Burghotel Auf Schonburg, with a museum in the castle tower, which is open to the public. The castle’s gardens are, however, available for only hotel guests to roam. For others, there is a vantage point overlooking the Rhine River, giving you splendid views. The picturesque scenery from above was worth making the small detour and was one of the highlights of our drive.

View from Schonburg Castle lookout
View from Schonburg Castle lookout

There is also a small lookout before entering or after exiting the castle walls, from where there are excellent views of the grapevines of the hills of the valley behind the castle.

Ehrenbreitstein Fortress in Koblenz

In Koblenz, we had anticipated taking a morning walk up to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress high on the hillside over the city from the other side of the Rhine River. Unfortunately, there was no easy way to cross the river on foot.

Instead, we waited until after we returned from our day excursion to the beautiful town of Cochem, to go across by cable car to look around the fortress. The cable car ride provides fabulous views over Koblenz’s old town.

Ehrenbreitstein Fortress is a complex of buildings sprawling over a large area of the eastern bank. The fortress buildings are now home to the State Museum, displaying antiques and war memorabilia.

If you’re not a museum-lover, you can take a wander around the extensive fort area, savouring the views, especially from the viewing platform, which is a piece of art itself. The triangular-shaped wooden platform was originally built for a Horticultural exhibition, then repurposed and placed on the fortress’s grounds. From the platform, you get spectacular views of Koblenz, the Rhine and Moselle Rivers.

The Rhine Castle route from Koblenz to Bonn

The Rhine Castle route is determined to run from Bingen to Bonn. However, we were disappointed not to find any noteworthy castles or fortresses on the drive along the Rhine River between Koblenz and Bonn. Maybe they are well hidden from the roadside.

Our opinion

The first section of our drive, between Bingen and Koblenz, mesmerised us with the centuries-old, magnificent castles and fortresses as well as the terraced vineyards on the rolling hills on both banks of the Rhine River. The entire journey is picture-postcard worthy, and we would consider driving again at a much slower pace, making more stops and detours to visit select castles.

Note: Some castles and fortresses charge an entrance fee to visit inside.

In case you’re interested

We stayed in Koblenz, one of the most beautiful and historic cities on the Rhine and Moselle rivers. Read about what this wonderful city has to offer through the link below.

Introducing fascinating Koblenz, the one German city you must visit.

Why you'll fall in love with Rouen, the secret French city

Why you’ll fall in love with Rouen, the secret French city

27/07/2022 / / 1 Comment

Rouen is just two hours drive from central Paris. Or, if like us, you prefer to meander along the quieter country roads through pretty villages and small townships surrounded by farmland, it will take closer to three hours. Read on and let us tell you why you’ll fall in love with Rouen, the secret French city.

We stayed in an apartment within walking distance of the heart of the historic centre. Within five minutes of stepping outside, we were surrounded by historic half-timbered houses, the city’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral and a multitude of cafes and restaurants. 

France was in the middle of a heatwave with the temperature at 43 degrees Celcius when we arrived but undeterred we immediately ventured out to complete a reconnaissance of the Old Town.

Few people were about, some socialising over evening aperitifs at the local cafe/bar while others took cover under the shady trees in the park outside the Musee Beaux Arts. Shops are closed and the streets are mostly deserted. We didn’t venture far finding a Thai cafe close by for a dinner before going to bed. After the long flight and spending most of the day visiting our favourite haunts in Paris before driving to Rouen we were tired. 

Cloudy skies greeted us the next morning and the temperature had dropped dramatically overnight! With rain forecast for the afternoon, we took the opportunity to fit in a bit of exploring on our brisk morning walk. The River Seine divides the city much like Paris with the city having a Right and Left Bank. The Old City is located on the Right Bank and crossing over to the Left Bank it seemed that the Left Bank mainly houses the municipal and administrative buildings. However, we noticed one distinctive building standing prominently in front of a shopping centre a short distance from the River, the Englise Saint-Sever Catholic Church.

The Right Bank is where you’ll find all the main attractions.

Notre Dame Cathedral

The Cathedral is Rouen’s pride and joy. You’ll understand why when you set eyes on it. It’s an elegant building with an intricate facade. It was cloudy when we first stood in the square to look at it. However, it was particularly stunning later when the evening sun was shining on it. Wander inside to feast your eyes on the beautiful stained glass windows which date back to 1200.  And, if you’re visiting in the summer, come back to see the colourful light and sound show projected on the facade after dark.

Notre Dame Cathedral, Rouen
Rouen’s Notre Dame Cathdral

Palais de Justice

Originally Normandy’s Parliament in the 1500s, the Palais de Justice is an impressive Gothic building with spires and gargoyles decorating its exterior. These days it serves at Rouen’s courthouse. We asked to have a look inside and a policeman graciously ushered us straight past the security by a policeman into the courtyard where we could survey the architecture in more detail. We popped into a courtroom to sit in on judgements on what we believed were petty matters being read by judges to gowned barristers/solicitors and their clients. An exciting experience and a good way to see inside one of the regal courtrooms.

Palais de Justice, Rouen, France
The beautiful exterior of the Palais de Justice. Formerly Normandy’s Parliament Building and now Rouen’s Court House

Gros Horlage

You can’t miss Gros Horlage. It’s Rouen’s High Street  The highlight is not the shopping, however. The medieval astronomical clock dating back to the 15th century is why you should take a walk down Gros Horlage. Hint: Stand under the archway and look up at the sculpture.

Gros Horlage, Rouen, Normandy
The clock in the centre of the street is the highlight of walking along Gros Horlage.

Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc plays a key role in Rouen’s history. An interactive museum is dedicated to her in the palace where she was tried. In Old Market Square you’ll find a memorial at the spot where she was burnt at the stake.

Old Market Square, Rouen
The colourful Old Market Square

Old Market Square

There is more to the Old Market Square than Joan of Arc’s memorial. We dined at Manuel’s, one of the many restaurants around the perimeter of the square serving some of Normandy’s traditional foods. The half-timber houses scattered around the Square are worth looking at as well.

Church of Saint-Maclau

Saint Maclau was the first church we came across early in our visit to Rouen. We walked up a side street from the riverfront past beautiful half-timber houses to be greeted by this beautiful church. While not as large or grand as the Notre Dame, it holds a vantage point amongst the traditional houses and the beautiful square where you can enjoy a combination of views of the exquisite exterior of the Church surrounded by unique homes.

Church of Saint-Maclou
The intricate facade of the Church of Saint Maclou. The Church is set in a square with beautiful half-timbered houses surrounding it

Places to visit outside of Rouen

The Tourist Office provided us with a couple of suggestions to see the surrounding countryside. We opted to take the scenic fruit trail drive. Private orchards on one side of the road and the River Seine meandering along on the other accompanied us. The orchards were full of apple trees used to make cider, one of the region’s specialities. The trail ends at the little town of Les Mesnil des Jumieges. We continued driving along little lanes lined with large country homes to the pretty village of Jumieges to see the Abbaye. Quite a few cyclists were stopping to look as well. There are plenty of cycling and hiking routes in the area too.

Jumieges Abbaye
Jumieges Abbaye

We continued on the road to the pretty riverside villages of Rives en Seine and Villequeres before returning to Rouen, where heavy rain accompanied us on the way. Glad we weren’t cycling!

The other recommended drive was on the other side of the River to see the thatched houses. We’ve saved that to do on another visit.

Where we stayed

Le secret de Lea is located in a quiet street within the historic centre but distant enough to be in a micro-neighbourhood with its cafe, boulangerie and other amenities. The tastefully decorated apartment was spacious and had a separate bedroom and bed space for a family of four. Private garaged parking is also available. Our host Corrine thoughtfully provided extra amenities for the comfort of her guests. The Gare de Rouen is located a few hundred metres from the apartment if you’re arriving by train.

Why you’ll fall in love with Rouen

Rouen is the capital of Normandy. It seemed nothing like other capital cities we have visited. The City is a stop on the river cruising itinerary and apart from a few cyclists setting off from the boats on self-guided tours and a couple of small tour groups by the Notre Dame it seemed that we were the only visitors in the city. Rouen. With few people about, we got the impression that every day is a weekend day in Normandy’s capital city. We think that this jewel has not been discovered by tourists yet and suggest you visit before the secret is out.

Porto Antico, Genoa
Porto Antico, Genoa

Things you’ll love to see in charming Genoa

26/03/2021 / / 1 Comment

Charming Genoa

Many tourists don’t visit Genoa because it is not close to Italy’s more popular tourist spots. Rest assured, there are many things you’ll love to see and do in charming Genoa.

The city secured its importance early because of its harbour and has been inhabited for thousands of years with its own history complete with magnificent piazzas, vias, palaces and buildings.

Why we visited Genoa

“Where shall we take our driving break?” We were driving from Switzerland to Rapallo on Italy’s Ligurian coast.

It was to be in Genoa, a city we had visited before. With only a couple of hours available, we wandered around a small part of the old town area reflecting on why hadn’t planned to stay.

We had stayed in the city a few years before and recalled there was heavy traffic from Monaco into Italy but what beautiful views over the Italian Riviera!  Spectacular sea views on one side and equally striking terraces of vineyards, and olive and citrus groves on the other.

Things you’ll love to see and do in charming Genoa

Genoa’s Old Town

Parking was prohibited in the historic centre so we dragged our bags into the maze of alleyways and instantly lost our bearings. Not a soul was in sight. We found a pharmacy open, and a pharmacist who spoke a little English. He decided that we were incapable of finding our way to our bed and breakfast, Quarto Piano and guided us through a tight network of narrow alleys emerging in front of a beautiful old building. We would never have found our way! Ersi buzzed us up to the fourth floor as our guide disappeared with a smile and a wave. We lugged our bags up the 105 steps of the impressive marble staircase to find our chic abode. Like many historic buildings, there was no lift!

Once settled, a wandering of the carrugi revealed a historic centre with many old, a little new, wealthy and many not-so-wealthy inhabitants cohabiting within the medieval core of the city. It was interesting just to cast our eyes around our little neighbourhood before we explored further out.

Porto Antico, Porto Vecchio, Porto Nuovo

The harbour is the life of Genoa and we spent our first afternoon exploring the docks. Each has its own characteristics and we found a range of dining options along the way where visitors and locals can sit back and watch the comings and goings in the harbour. We even retraced our steps back to our accommodation without getting lost!

There’s plenty to see and do in Porto Antico

The Palazzos of Via Guiseppe Garibaldi

What a difference a day made! The next morning we stepped out for our first full day in the city to find the shutters had been lifted and business was well underway.

Our first stop was famous via Guiseppe Garibaldi. Built by Genovese aristocracy, the street is lined with magnificent palaces. Each noble palace has its own character with extravagant facades, enthralling courtyards and amazing interiors hidden behind the nondescript entrances. Give yourself plenty of time, there is much to be amazed by.

Take a peek at the elegant courtyards hidden behind doors on via Garibaldi
You’ll find each interior exquisite
From inside one doorway to another
The beautifully decorated exteriors are unique to that palazzo

Piazza Ferrari

Piazza Ferrari is one of Italy’s most beautiful piazzas. In the centre of the old town boasting a majestic fountain, it’s a wonderful place to stop and appreciate the beautiful old palaces and buildings that flank the perimeter of the Piazza.

Piazza Ferrari
Historic buildings frame Piazza Ferrari

Via XX Settembre (via 20 September)

Linking Piazza Ferrari to Piazza Vittoria, Via XX Settembre is another of the city’s most elegant streets. Boutiques, shops and cafes are housed on the ground floors of the extravagant buildings lining both sides of the street. Cast your eyes around to admire the intricate and decorative facades and balconies of the buildings. Make sure you look up and down too. The arcaded street has beautiful mosaic floors and equally stunning panelled ceilings.

Piazza della Vittoria

The walk down XX Settembre ends at Piazza della Vittoria, another beautiful and important square. The significant feature of the square is the triumphal arch dedicated to the city’s fallen soldiers from World War I.

Genoa’s Triumphal Arch

Porto Soprana

Genoa was once a walled city and its city walls were once the longest in Italy. Today Porto Soprana is the best of the remaining gateways to visit.  The gateway between two towers, or the Towers of Sant’Andrea as they are sometimes referred to is not far from Piazza Ferrari.

The towering towers of Porto Soprano
The well-preserved gateway

Casa Colombo

A stone’s throw from Porto Soprana is Christopher Columbus House. Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa and lived on the site between 1455 and 1470. The current building is a reconstruction built a few decades after the original house was destroyed (believed to be during the bombing of Genoa by France in 1684). The surrounding area has been renovated and rebuilt and while extra floors have been added to the house, it has been left to reflect what it looked when Columbus lived there and now houses a museum dedicated to the city’s famous son.

Casa Columbus

Our conclusion

Of course, the above is just a sprinkling of what we have seen. Like many of Italy’s cities and towns, there is an exhaustive list of charming churches and cathedrals, museums and theatres and viewing points to include on a visit.

We also know we have not seen or experienced all this great city has to offer and we’ll be going to go back for another stay. If you haven’t been to Genoa before, we highly recommend that you consider adding the city that most travellers forget to your itinerary. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.

P.S

If you enjoyed reading about Genoa, you may like a couple of our other Italian “off the radar” recommendations:

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