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    Genoa

    Italy

    Genoa

    CityCulture

    Genoa is the capital of Liguria and one of the largest ports in the Mediterranean. The city stretches for about 35 kilometers along the coast.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Italy
    7. Liguria
    9. Genoa
    Genoa is the capital of Liguria and one of the largest ports in the Mediterranean. The city stretches for about 35 kilometers along the coast. Its Old Town with its narrow alleys, the Caruggi, is one of Europe's largest old towns; the Strade Nuove and part of the Palazzi dei Rolli have been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2006.

    Sights in Genoa

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Piazza De Ferrari
    Attraction

    1Piazza De Ferrari

    The city's main square, named after Raffaele De Ferrari, Duke of Galliera. In the center stands the 1936 bronze fountain, and on the square is the Teatro Carlo Felice opera house with Garibaldi's equestrian statue in front.
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    San Lorenzo Cathedral
    Church

    2San Lorenzo Cathedral

    Genoa's most significant church, featuring a black-and-white striped facade and three Gothic portals. The Romanesque reconstruction began in 1098; Galeazzo Alessi's dome was added in the 16th century. Among other treasures, the Sacro Catino is visible in the Cathedral Treasury Museum; an unexploded British grenade from 1941 lies in the nave.
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    Palazzo Ducale
    Museum

    3Palazzo Ducale

    Former seat of the Doges of the Republic of Genoa, joined from several medieval buildings in the late 13th century. After a fire in 1777, Simone Cantoni rebuilt the central part Neoclassically. Today, the palace serves as a cultural center with exhibitions and events.
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    Castello D'Albertis
    Museum

    4Castello D'Albertis

    Neo-Gothic castle, built from 1886 to 1892 for Captain Enrico Alberto D'Albertis on Montegalletto hill, overlooking the city and the sea. It houses the Museum of World Cultures and a Museum of Folk Musical Instruments. You can get there, among other ways, by elevator or bus.
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    Acquario di Genova
    Aquarium

    5Acquario di Genova

    Large aquarium at Ponte Spinola in Porto Antico, opened 1992 for Columbus Exhibition; Renzo Piano designed building and environment. In 40 tanks live 15,000 animals of 400 species, including sharks, seals, penguins, sea cows and dolphins.
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    Via Garibaldi and Palazzo Rosso
    Museum

    6Via Garibaldi and Palazzo Rosso

    Via Garibaldi, formerly Strada Nuova, is one of the Strade Nuove built by the Genoese nobility in the late 16th and early 17th centuries; it is lined with aristocratic palaces that are part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Palazzo Rosso, Palazzo Bianco, and Palazzo Doria Tursi together form the Musei di Strada Nuova, with Palazzo Bianco notably featuring works by Caravaggio and Veronese.
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    City walks in Genoa

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    Genoa's Heartbeat: A Walk Through Palaces and Lanes

    Discover Genoa on a two-hour tour of its fascinating old town. From the UNESCO-listed splendour of Via Garibaldi through the narrow 'caruggi' to breathtaking panoramic views, experience the authentic heart of Liguria and its rich history.

    ~2 Std.
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    Stops (6)

    Dining & Drinks

    1

    Pizzeria La Funicolare

    Pizzeria in the Castelletto district above the Old Town, with pizza, farinata, and cheese focaccia.
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    2

    Zeffirino Genova

    Traditional restaurant with Genoese cuisine near Via XX Settembre, known for pasta with pesto.
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    3

    Re Naya

    Chinese restaurant with vegetarian options on Via Edmondo de Amicis, near Brignole Station.
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    4

    Trattoria Archivolto Mongiardino

    Trattoria with fish and Ligurian cuisine in an old town alley, south of the cathedral.
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    5

    Trattoria Skipper

    Trattoria with Italian cuisine on Via Montevideo, east of Brignole train station.
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    Eating & Drinking

    Genoese cuisine is the most famous in Liguria. You can find many dishes as a quick snack in the focaccerias and friggitorias of the old town.

    Pesto alla genovese

    Pounded basil with garlic, coarse salt, pine nuts, Parmesan, sheep's cheese, olive oil; traditionally with Trofie or Trenette, potatoes and green beans.

    Focaccia genovese

    Ligurian flatbread with olive oil, in Genoese 'fugassa'.

    Farinata

    Flatbread of chickpea flour, water, salt, and olive oil, baked in a wood oven.

    Pansoti with walnut sauce

    Dumplings filled with wild herbs (Preboggion) and fresh cheese, served with a sauce of walnuts, pine nuts, garlic, and bread soaked in milk.

    Cappon magro

    Meatless dish of fish, seafood, and vegetables on rusks, now mostly prepared before Easter.

    History and Culture

    In the Middle Ages, Genoa rose to become one of the great maritime republics and competed with Venice, against which it suffered a heavy defeat in the Chioggia War in 1380. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Genoese bankers financed the Spanish Crown. During this period, the palaces of the Strade Nuove were built. From 1576, the Republic kept lists of selected palaces, the Rolli, whose owners had to host state guests; the host was determined by lot.In 1797, the old republic became the Ligurian Republic, in 1805 it was annexed by the French Empire, and after the Congress of Vienna, Genoa joined the Kingdom of Sardinia. For the Columbus Celebrations in 1992, architect Renzo Piano redesigned the old port.

    Nightlife

    Genoa's nightlife primarily focuses on the alleys of the Old Town and the district around the Porto Antico. Here you'll find a mix of traditional bars and modern cocktail venues like the Biggie cocktail bar. For live music, the Count Basie Jazz Club is an established address.
    1

    Posta Vecchia Cocktail Bar Tequileria

    Tequila-focused cocktail bar at Piazza della Posta Vecchia in the Old Town.
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    2

    Count Basie Jazz Club

    Jazz club with live concerts in Vico Tana, near Piazza Principe train station.
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    3

    Kamun Lab

    Pub on Via di San Bernardo in the Old Town.
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    4

    Biggie cocktail bar

    Cocktail bar in Vico delle Erbe, at Piazza delle Erbe in the Old Town.
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    5

    Caffè di Greta

    Bar on Via Luccoli, a shopping street in the Old Town.
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    6

    Scurreria Beer & Bagel

    Beer pub with bagels on Via di Scurreria, a few steps from the Cathedral.
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    7

    Les Rouges Cucina & Cocktails

    Cocktail bar with kitchen in a historic palazzo on Piazza di Campetto in the Old Town.
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    8

    Poldo's pub

    Pub on Via Pisacane, south of Brignole train station.
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    9

    Bootleg

    Bar on Salita Pollaiuoli in the Old Town, near Piazza delle Erbe.
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    Exploring Locally

    You can explore the Old Town on foot. A metro line with seven stations runs mostly beneath the Old Town, complemented by funiculars like the Righi Funicular and public lifts such as the Castelletto Lift.Genoa has two large train stations, Piazza Principe and Brignole. The Cristoforo Colombo Airport is about 6 kilometers from the center. To Boccadasse, take bus 31 from Brignole Station.

    Accommodations in Genoa

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    Campgrounds in Genoa

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      • 2San Lorenzo Cathedral4 days
      • 3Palazzo Ducale5 days
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    Nearby

    Liguria

    Liguria

    Liguria is a narrow, south-facing arc on the coast in northwest Italy. The region borders France, Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna, and Tuscany. The Ligurian Alps and Ligurian Apennines limit it to the interior. Its capital is Genoa, and famous destinations include Cinque Terre and Portofino.
    Portofino

    Portofino

    Portofino is a small harbour town on the west side of the Gulf of Tigullio, at the foot of the eponymous promontory on the Riviera di Levante. Coloured houses frame the harbour basin and the Piazzetta. With approximately 360 inhabitants and 2.5 square kilometres, Portofino is the smallest municipality in the Metropolitan City of Genoa.
    Cinque Terre

    Cinque Terre

    The Cinque Terre are five villages on the steep coast of the Riviera di Levante: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. For centuries, the inhabitants have terraced the mountains towards the sea with dry stone walls to grow wine and olives. The villages and their cultural landscape have been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997 and a National Park since 1999.
    Langhe-Roero and Monferrato

    Langhe-Roero and Monferrato

    Langhe, Roero and Monferrato are the hilly landscapes in the south of Piedmont, nestled between the Po and the Ligurian Apennines. On their slopes, vines for Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera and Asti Spumante grow; Alba is known for its white truffles. This wine-growing landscape, with its villages, castles, and cellars, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2014.
    Asti

    Asti

    Asti is located in the Tanaro plain, between the Monferrato and Langhe hills, about 55 kilometers east of Turin. The city was one of Italy's first free communes in the Middle Ages; family towers, Gothic churches, and palaces bear witness to this. Asti is known for Asti Spumante sparkling wine, Barbera d'Asti red wine, and the Palio horse race.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Unsplash, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI