Things to Do in Genoa

One of the most dominant features of Genoa's enormous port is something that looks a bit like a space probe sticking out of the water. That multi-pronged white structure that resembles a many-armed crane is called the “Bigo,” and it's Genoa's “panoramic elevator.”

Bigo was designed by noted local architect Renzo Piano, the same man who designed Genoa's aquarium, in 1992 for the anniversary of Columbus' journey to the New World. From one of the arms, an elevator cabin can be raised, and then it rotates 360 degrees to give you a complete view overlooking the city. An audio-guide in the elevator cabin helps you make sense of what you're seeing.

Not surprisingly, Bigo's design was influenced by the many huge cranes that seem to be always at work in Genoa's port, lifting goods on and off of the massive cargo ships in the harbor.

The street called Via San Lorenzo runs in a southeasterly direction from close to the port in Genoa to one of the city's major public piazzas.

Perhaps the biggest attraction along Via San Lorenzo is the church that shares its name "“ the Genoa Cathedral, or Cattedrale di San Lorenzo. It was consecrated in the early 12th century, and the square in front of the church was Genoa's only public piazza during the Middle Ages.

Today, one of Genoa's most popular piazzas is just up Via San Lorenzo "“ Piazza Matteotti leads from the street up to the Palazzo Ducale, and the Chiesa del Gesù e dei Santi Ambrogio e Andrea is off to one side. The church was built in the late 16th century, while the Palazzo Ducale dates from the late 13th century.

As birthplace of Christopher Columbus, it's fitting that Genoa (Genova) is home to the second-largest port in Europe. A popular stop for cruise ships, the city blends old and new, with historic palazzi and churches sitting beside modern buildings. Genoa is also a jumping-off point for shore excursions to Liguria’s pretty coastal villages.

Because of the city’s size, it’s best to explore Genoa with a hop-on hop-off tour or private guide. Begin in the old town, centered around the 12th-century Romanesque Cathedral of San Lorenzo and the 13th-century Palace of Doges in nearby Piazza de Ferrari; Via XX Settembre, the city’s main shopping thoroughfare, leads off from here. The 16th-century Palazzi dei Rolli along Via Garibaldi are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and now house art museums and cultural centers. A relic of when Genoa was the Mediterranean’s most powerful maritime republic, the Old Port, restored by Renzo Piano and situated below the city’s historic center, is home to the Genoa Aquarium— the largest in Europe— and a 17th-century pirate ship, both popular attractions for kids. Genoa is used as a base for tours to nearby destinations such as Santa Margherita Ligure, Portofino, the Cinque Terre, and the inland Renaissance capital of Florence.

Passenger ships dock at the marine port of Genoa, a busy industrial harbor that is full of traffic. Though it’s not far, opt to take a taxi or shuttle bus from this rather rough area to the Porto Antico or San Lorenzo in the heart of the historic center.

Despite being one of the main cruise ports in Italy, English is not widely spoken in Genoa. Many shops and businesses close in the middle of the day (between 1pm and 4pm) and all day Sunday, except in the tourist hubs. The currency is the euro.

It's often said that all of Genoa's historic center is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, but in truth the designation is more specific. It includes the city's "Strade Nuove," or new streets, and the system of "Palazzi dei Rolli." 

The collection is made up of 42 palaces, all built in the 16th-18th centuries, which were listed on city's register "“ the rolls, or "rolli," which later gave the system of palaces its name. Each time a dignitary was on a state visit to Genoa, he or she needed a place to stay that was worthy of his or her status. The palazzo that got the honor was chosen at random from the "rolli."

The Palazzi dei Rolli were an early example of a city and its citizens forming a partnership of architectural design as well as cooperative urban planning. The palaces are unique, but they are of a design that suits the overall style. The Palazzi dei Rolli were added to UNESCO's list in 2006.

Genoa is associated, understandably, with the sea. It's Italy's largest port city, and it's home to the Genoa Aquarium – Italy's largest aquarium, and one of the largest in Europe.

The Aquarium of Genoa sits on the old harbor, the city's ancient port. When the area was redeveloped in the early 1990s to be less industrial and more appealing to visitors, the aquarium was part of that redevelopment project. The aquarium – along with the old port – was redesigned by famed architect Renzo Piano, himself from Genoa. It was opened in 1992, and today more than 1.2 million people visit every year.

The Genoa Aquarium has 70 different tanks for visitors to check out, holding more than 1.6 million gallons of water and 12,000 animals. This aquarium is the only one in Europe to have some species of Antarctic fish on display, and a 1998 expansion means there's now a whole wing devoted to marine mammals – there's space for up to 10 dolphins.

The resort town of Santa Margherita Ligure on the Italian Riviera is often outshined by its famous neighbor, Portofino, but deserves no less attention. The larger of the two, Santa Margherita Ligure feels less overrun with tourists while offering similarly quaint cafes and boutiques, pastel-painted buildings, and glorious views of the sea.

 

A popular holiday destination among Italians, Santa Margherita Ligure is much less well-known among international travelers, making it an attractive alternative to other coastal towns in Liguria, like Cinque Terre and Camogli, which are often expensive and crowded.

 

You can easily explore the town's sights during a half-day walking tour and still have time to relax on the beach before sunset. Attractions include a 16th-century castle (Castello di Santa Margherita Ligure), the Chiesa di Santa Margherita d'Antiochia and adjacent Santuario di Nostra Signora della Rosa, the tiny Oratorio di Sant'Erasmo set directly on the water's edge, and Villa Durazzo, known for its 19th-century English-style botanical garden.

 

 

Unlike Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure has a train station, making it easier to access from elsewhere in Italy. High-speed trains from Milan, Rome, Florence, and Venice connect through Genoa (Genova), just a 30-minute train ride away. From Portofino, you can take the bus or ferry.

 

Santa Margherita Ligure is a seaside town and so is best visited during the tourist season from April through September when shops and restaurants are open. Many businesses shutter for the winter.

 

Along the coastal road between Santa Maria Ligure and Portofino, the 14th-century Cervara Abbey—also known as the Complesso Monumentale La Cervara, Abbazia di San Girolamo, or San Girolamo al Monte di Portofino in Italian—is a beautiful complex including a church, cloister, and gardens. The abbey is located within the confines of the Portofino Regional Park (Parco Naturale Regionale di Portofino) near Paraggi Bay (Baia di Paraggi).

One of Genoa's main public squares "“ the Piazza Caricamento "“ is located along its famous waterfront.

Whether you're in Genoa because you're on a cruise or you're simply visiting this historic city on your own, you'll no doubt spend plenty of time at the city's waterfront. The port is Italy's largest, so there's always lots going on, which makes the placement of the Piazza Caricamento particularly good for anyone who likes people-watching.

The piazza sits across from the pier on which the Genoa Aquarium sits, and extends underneath a road overpass away from the harbor. The 13th-century Palazzo San Giorgio sits on the piazza's southern end.

From the 14th through the 18th centuries, the rulers of Genoa were called doges, and they ruled from the Doge's Palace "“ the Palazzo Ducale in Italian "“ in the historic city center. Today, the palace is open to the public as a museum.

The Palazzo Ducale was built starting in the 1250s, although the finishing touches on the building weren't complete until the 1530s. The palace once served as both the residence for the ruling doge and the offices from which he would govern the Republic of Genoa. The palace was added to at various points over the years, and partially rebuilt twice (once after a fire in the 1770s).

There are two main entrances to the Palazzo Ducale. The main entrance is on the Piazza Matteotti, and a secondary entry is on the famous Piazza de Ferrari. Today, the palace serves various civil functions. There are regular exhibitions held in the palace, including visiting contemporary art shows, as well as a couple of large halls that are often used for events. Those halls are decorated with historic frescoes, making the venue part of the highlight of any event held there.

One of the most famous historic streets in the center of Genoa is the Via Garibaldi. This street has had a few names over the centuries, but it's always been a fashionable address.

What we know today as Via Garibaldi was first built in the mid-1500s, when it was called Strada Maggiore "“ or "Great Street." Later, it became known as "Strada Nuova," or "New Street." It was renamed in 1882 for Italy's great revolutionary leader, Giuseppe Garibaldi, and in 2006 the street and the historic palaces on it were added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.

From the time when the Via Garibaldi was first designed and built, it was intended to be a street upon which the wealthy families of Genoa would build their homes. The street was soon lined with palaces, each occupied by a noble family, and many passed down through generations and hundreds of years. Today, several of those former private homes are now public museums and galleries, and the entire street is a feast for the architecturally inclined.

Some of the palaces you can visit along the Via Garibaldi are the Palazzo Rosso, the Palazzo Bianco, and the Palazzo Doria Tursi. Some of the buildings are not open to the public, but with a good guided tour of Genoa you'll be sure to not miss any of the ones you can get into "“ many of which have beautiful old frescoes on internal walls.

In the heart of Genoa’s old town, San Lorenzo Cathedral (Duomo) is the most important church in the city. It’s a soaring Gothic and Romanesque masterpiece in alternating bands of black and white marble, where the magnificent art and architecture serve as reminders of this former maritime republic’s historic wealth and power.

 

Construction of Genoa's cathedral began in the early 11th century, though the facade and interiors weren’t completed until centuries later under Perugian architect Galeazzo Alessi. As a result, the architecture blends Romanesque, Gothic, and mannerist elements. Inside, the cathedral is decorated with sumptuous 14th-century frescoes and is home to the chalice said to have been used by Christ during the Last Supper (displayed in the Treasury Museum beneath the cathedral).

 

San Lorenzo Cathedral is a popular stop on hop-on hop-off or private walking or scooter tours, along with the Palazzi dei Rolli, Palace of the Doges, and Old Port. Tours of Genoa’s historic center can be paired with day trips to the nearby coastal villages of Santa Margherita Ligure, Portofino, and the Cinque Terre.

 

 

The San Lorenzo Cathedral is located in the heart of Genoa’s historic center, an easy walk from the port and a short metro ride from the train station. Get off at the De Ferrari stop.

 

The cathedral closes daily from noon to 3pm, so be sure to plan your visit for the morning or late afternoon to be able to admire the interiors and visit the Treasury Museum on the lower level.

 

Beneath the main level of the cathedral, the Treasury Museum displays a collection of sacred art and religious artifacts in gold and silver, dating from the 11th to the 19th centuries. Highlights include the ninth-century glass Sacro Catino (believed for centuries to be Jesus’ Holy Chalice), the Byzantine Croce degli Zaccaria reliquary, and a chest containing the ashes of St. John the Baptist.