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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
