Top 30 Attractions in Genoa

Genoa is the largest northern port of Italy and the center of the resort life of the Ligurian coast. Already from the X-XI centuries. The Republic of Genoa held in its hands the best sea routes of the Mediterranean, while pushing even the mighty Venice.

The famous Christopher Columbus, a navigator, explorer and discoverer of the American continent, was born in Genoa. His house can be seen with your own eyes on one of the city streets. The incomparable Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi spent a lot of time in the capital of Liguria. Once his operas glorified the local musical theater.

Genoa is a place where a good beach holiday can be combined with active excursions and long wellness walks in nature. On the Ligurian coast you need to come for a great climate, ancient architecture and the unhurried passage of time.

What to see and where to go in Genoa?

The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.

Piazza Ferrari

The central square of Genoa, located on the border of the historical and business districts. It houses many city attractions - palaces, a theater, monuments, administrative buildings. Piazza often becomes a venue for public demonstrations, concerts and other events. The square is named after Duke R. De Ferrari, a well-known patron of the city.

Old port of Genoa

For many centuries, ships loaded with spices, outlandish goods from distant lands, and slaves moored at the busy Genoese harbor. Over time, the port fell into disrepair, but local enthusiasts found a use for it. According to the project of the architect R. Piano, for the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America, the old harbor was converted into an entertainment complex. A museum, a tropical garden, a swimming pool, a panoramic elevator appeared on its territory.

La Lanterna

One of the oldest lighthouses in the world, located on the territory of the port of Genoa. The tower is believed to have been built in the 12th century. Over the following years, the lighthouse grew in size; in the 14th century, a prison was organized inside. The building, reconstructed in the 16th century, has survived to this day. The maintenance of the lighthouse was paid from a tax paid by ships moored in the city port.

baccadasse

Picturesque area located along the Corso Italia. There are several good beaches on the territory of Bakkadasse, which attracts increased attention of tourists. Cape Santa Chiara with a stylized medieval castle is also located here. In past centuries, mainly fishermen settled in local houses. The area is distinguished by narrow stone streets, bright colors of the facades and stunning views that open from the embankment.

Nervi

A small resort town located near Genoa. Administratively, it is considered part of the urban agglomeration of Genoa. Previously, Nervi was an ordinary fishing village, now it is built up with villas and apartments for tourists, although fishermen still continue to go to sea. The town has several interesting museums where you can learn a lot of interesting things about the history and culture of Liguria.

Palazzi dei Rolli

A quarter built up with palaces of the Genoese nobility. More than half of the buildings after the restoration were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. On the territory of Palazzo Tursi, Palazzo Bianco and Palazzo Rosso, you can see rich collections of antique furniture, priceless paintings, tapestries and sculptures. These palaces are located on Garibaldi Street, the central alley of the quarter. The street was named after the revered Italian revolutionary and hero.

Palazzo Bianco

The palace-museum, which is part of the Strada Nuova museum complex. The building was built in the 16th century by order of the influential Genoese Grimaldi family. Subsequently, the palazzo changed its owners several times. At the beginning of the 18th century, the new owners, the Brigondi family, carried out a thorough reconstruction. Since then, the palace has received the unofficial name "Palazzo Bianco" because of the white color that prevails in the interior. At the beginning of the 20th century, the building was transferred to the state.

Palazzo Rosso

The red palace, erected in the 17th century according to the project of the architect P.A. Corradi. In 2006, the building was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Palazzo was privately owned until 1874, when it was presented as a gift to the city. Along with Palazzo Bianco and Palazzo Tursi, the palace is part of the museum complex on Garibaldi Street. Inside is a collection of works of art that once belonged to the Brignole-Sale family, the former owners of the palazzo.

Palazzo Ducale

The former palace of the Doge - the rulers of Genoa, which was built and completed in the period 1251 - 1539. Today, the building houses a museum. Also, some rooms are used for cultural and social events. At the end of the 18th century, the palazzo was rebuilt in accordance with the then fashionable trends of the neoclassical style. The last restoration was carried out in 1992 to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America.

Palazzo San Giorgio

Palace of the XII century, built by a close relative of the first Doge of Genoa. It is interesting that the fragments of the Venetian embassy, ​​which were brought from Constantinople, were used as building material. At a certain period, the palazzo began to be used as a prison. The most famous prisoner of this dungeon was the traveler Marco Polo. In the 15th century, the building housed a bank. Nowadays, the directorate of the Genoese port is located in the palace.

Royal Palace

Palace of the XVII century, preserved in its original form, despite several restorations. It was erected between 1643 and 1650. for an influential Genoese family. Since 1824, the palazzo has been used as the residence of the royal family of Savoy. The new residents put a lot of effort into giving the interiors a luxurious look. They brought a lot of expensive furniture and art objects.

princely villa

The mansion was erected in the 17th century for A. Doria, a sea admiral and ruler of the city. At that time, the palace was the most luxurious building in Genoa. Important guests, official delegations and foreign ambassadors were received on its territory. Over time, A. Doria was granted the princely title, so the residence became known as the “Princely Villa”. The building is surrounded by a landscaped garden, which houses a large fountain from 1585.

Albertis Castle

The castle was built in the 19th century on the site of the old fortress walls of Genoa. Until 1932, it belonged to E.A. D'Albertis, sea captain and founder of yachting in Italy. The building was erected in the neo-Gothic style according to the project of A. D'Andrade. In 2004, Genoa was chosen as the European Capital of Culture. In connection with this event, the Museum of World Cultures was opened on the territory of the castle, which contains exhibits obtained during expeditions to Africa, Australia and Oceania, America.

Cathedral of San Lorenzo

The main cathedral of Genoa, erected in the XII century on the site of an old church of the V-VI centuries. Even earlier, at the dawn of our era, there was an ancient Roman temple and an early Christian cemetery, as evidenced by objects found during excavations. The construction of the cathedral was completely completed by the 17th century, during which time it underwent several expansions and reconstructions. At the cathedral there is a Treasure Museum, which stores jewelry made in the period from the 9th century.

Church of Santa Maria di Castello

One of the most ancient temples of Genoa, which was built in the IX-X centuries. In the XIV-XV centuries. a monastery was added to the church. By the 20th century, the monastery fell into disrepair. Now a museum is housed within its walls. Santa Maria di Castello is an active church. Over the centuries, it has been rebuilt and updated. Therefore, in its appearance one can catch the features of baroque and classicism, superimposed on a severe Romanesque facade.

Basilica of Santissima Annunziata del Vastato

A picturesque church built in the transitional style from Mannerism to Baroque. According to the original plan, the temple was erected in the late Gothic style, but at the beginning of the 17th century, under the guidance of the architect T. Carlone, the building was rebuilt. Famous masters worked on decorating the church in different periods: D. Bernardo, D. Casella, K. Barabino. This was made possible by generous funding from the wealthy Lomellini family.

Church of Saints Ambrose and Andrew

Jesuit temple located on one of the central city squares. The first church of the 6th century, located on this site, was named after St. Ambrose, the patron saint of Milan. It lasted until 1552. After the building fell into the hands of the Jesuits, they decided to rebuild the church to their liking. Thanks to the brothers, valuable works of art and frescoes by D. Carlone appeared in the temple.

Cemetery of Staglieno

The cemetery began its work in the middle of the 19th century. It quickly became the most "popular" in the city. The people who buried their relatives seem to have competed in the beauty of the tombstones that adorn the graves and crypts. Now the necropolis can be considered as an open-air sculpture museum. Philosopher F. Nietzsche, accompanied by the artist P. Klee, once liked to walk along the paths of the cemetery.

Theater Carlo Felice

Genoa's main opera and ballet stage, located in Piazza Ferrari. The theater building was erected in the first half of the 19th century. The opera "Bianca and Fernando" by V. Bellini was chosen as the premiere performance. The works of the great Giuseppe Verdi were often staged on the stage. The composer himself lived in Genoa every winter for 40 years. All this time he worked closely with the management of the theater.

Aquarium of Genoa

The Genoa Oceanarium is considered the second largest in Europe and the largest aquarium in Italy. Marine life is contained in 70 huge tanks with a total capacity of more than 6 million tons of water. The oceanarium was built in 1992 for the start of the Genoa Expo exhibition, which was held in honor of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America. In 1998, the area of ​​the aquarium was increased by another extension.

Maritime Museum Galata

The museum was opened in 2004. The exposition tells about the rich history and traditions of navigation of the Republic of Genoa, as well as the entire Mediterranean. The museum exhibits models of ships belonging to different historical eras. There are modern submarines, and old boats of wealthy merchants, and warships. The museum has a library where navigation charts and ship documentation are stored.

Galleon "Neptune"

A copy of the Spanish ship of the 17th century, which was created in 1985 specifically for the film "Pirates" by Roman Polanski. Externally, the ship is a real Spanish galleon, completely made of wood, but it has a powerful modern engine and a steel hull. After filming, the ship moored forever near the Maritime Museum and is now used only as a tourist attraction.

Panoramic lift "Il Bigot"

A popular tourist attraction, which is located on the territory of the Old Port of Genoa. The elevator is stylized as a system of port cranes, with the help of which ships were loaded and unloaded. "Il Bigo" lifts passengers to a height of 40 meters above sea level, from where a panoramic view of the sea, the city, the harbor, the coastal cliffs and the surroundings of Genoa opens.

Gate of Porta Soprana

Massive gate of the XII century, located in the heart of the city. For many centuries they served as the main entrance to Genoa. The structure is made of gray stone in the form of two watchtowers connected by an arched span. Tourists can climb to the observation deck of the gate for free and admire the city views from there. Porta Soprana is located in the historical part of Genoa.

House of Christopher Columbus

The great navigator and discoverer Columbus was born on the territory of the Republic of Genoa. The house in which he was born still stands on one of the city streets. The building was badly damaged in the 17th century during a French attack, but the building was partially restored. During the excavations, it was found that the walls rest on the old foundation of the VI century.

Nervi Park

The park area surrounding the town of Nervi and including the surroundings and landscaped embankments. The main walking alley of the park is a narrow strip between the rocks and the sea, which stretches for about 2 km. This is a great place for relaxing walks along the coast, to observe the sea and relax. The park is very popular with tourists, so during the high season there can be a lot of visitors.

Vileta di Negro Park

Large park located in the city of Genoa. In the 16th century, a system of fortifications stood in its place, but later they were no longer needed, and the territories were given over to green spaces. The park appeared thanks to the activities of the Marquis D. K. Di Negro, who first organized a botanical school here and brought the first plants. On the territory of the garden is the Museum of Oriental Art. Chiossone.

Promenade Corso Italy

The main walking "promenade" of Genoa, stretching for about 2.5 km. along the coast. The embankment acquired its modern architectural appearance in 1915. D. Carbone worked on the project. As a result of the reconstruction, the place became more comfortable - benches, new paths, gazebos appeared. Corso Italia has restaurants, bars, swimming pools, sports clubs and private beaches.

Embankment of Anita Garibaldi

The main walking alley of Nevi Park, which stretches along the rocky coast. There are several places on the promenade where you can go down the stairs directly to the sea. Many tourists sunbathe and relax right on the coastal rocks. The embankment is dotted with sharp capes and rocky ledges, overgrown with characteristic Mediterranean vegetation. This is a picturesque place, perfectly adapted for recreation.

Viewpoint Montaldo

Montaldo is considered one of the most beautiful places in Genoa. From here you have a stunning view of the city blocks. In the 13th century, the Castelletto fortress stood on the site of the square, but it was demolished in the middle of the 19th century. You can get to Monatldo using a special elevator from 1910, which in itself is a separate attraction. Or you can take the Circonvallazione a Monte road.