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Largest city in Liguria, Italy
Photo: Alessio Sbarbaro, CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
Genoa (Italian: Genova, Ligurian: Zena) is a historic port city in northern Italy, the capital of the Liguria region. As a tourist attraction, it is often overshadowed by cities such as Rome or Venice, even though it has a long history as a rich and powerful trade centre. However, with its multitude of hidden gems behind cozy alleyways, excellent cuisine (notably pesto, focaccia, and seafood), renovated old port, beautiful sights (including one of Europe's biggest aquariums), and its position as the European Capital of Culture in 2004, the birthplace of explorer Christopher Columbus (Cristoforo Colombo) is an enticing place which is gradually becoming more included in the tourism market. With its profusion of slate-roofed houses, lovely seaside villas, and several luxurious boutiques, Genoa is a must-see if you want to experience the quintessential Italy.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Casa di Cristoforo Colombo
The house where Columbus lived as a child.
A nice belvedere where one can have a pleasant view of the city and of the seaport. It can be reached by public lift from Piazza della Nunziata or on foot from that very same square.
also known as Via Aurea and Strada Nuova, Golden Street and New Street has very impressive baroque buildings.
Porto Antico
An entertainment area with museums, cinemas, cafés and also a beautiful promenade along the sea.
The prominent Genovese symbol since 1128: the second tallest traditional lighthouse in the world
D’Albertis Castle Museum of World Cultures
Where the Dukes of Genoa used to live.
Replica of a 17th-century Spanish galleon.
Also has some similar buildings.
See both Palazzo Bianco (White Palace) and Palazzo Rosso (Red Palace).
The biggest European collection of Oriental art.
A convent displaying various medieval works of art.
Royal Palace Museum
It was built by the Balbi family 1643-1650 and enlarged by the Durazzo family in the 18th century. It had frescoes, stuccos, paintings, sculptures, furnishings and furnishings belonging to the noble and royal families who lived there. Includes a historical picture gallery with works by Anton Van Dyck, Tintoretto, Guercino, Luca Giordano, Ferdinand Voet and Bassano.
Another Genovese historical art collection.
The gallery is housed in the 16th-century Villa Saluzzo in Nervi, with over 2,500 pieces, including paintings, sculptures, drawings and engravings since the beginning of the 19th century.
A museum of modern applied arts. Italian objects and works of art dating from 1880 to 1945, with a focus on Italian futurism.
A private collection which houses various works of art and furniture. In a park overlooking the cliffs of Nervi, the halls of a noble residence of the early 20th century, it hosts collections of paintings and drawings, furniture, antique clocks, ceramics, silverware and nativity figurines of the 18th-19th centuries.
In the 18th-century Villa Grimaldi Fassio, collections of 19th and 20th-century art of the Frugone brothers include paintings, sculptures and drawings by Italian and foreign artists from the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The second biggest in Europe!
Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova
Museo Nazionale dell'Antartide
Based on the expeditions of Italian scientists to the Antarctic.
A group of palaces, or rather, fancy private homes whose owners volunteered to host foreign dignitaries during their visits to Genoa in the 16th-17th centuries. On the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The cloister of the Dominican order, the museum and the summer cathedral offer a lot of treasures and exploring them is free during the opening hours of the church
A spectacular view of the city and the Mediterranean Sea. From here, one can have pleasant walks on the surrounding hills and to the fortifications.
Genoa's promenade.
A picturesque fishermen quarter.
Cemetery of Staglieno
Huge cemetery known for its numerous, elaborate statues – interesting, haunting, and beautiful.
Manana
2 interesting apartments ideal to explore the historical center
Traditional regional cuisine and a practical and crowded atmosphere. Possible opening for lunch only, no reservation.
A Hamburger restaurant
This restaurant offers mainly fish dishes.
A takeout restaurant
A pizza takeaway restaurant
A Ligurian restaurant
An Ecuadorian restaurant
Sandwiches
A Ligurian restaurant
This restaurant offers traditional regional cuisine.
Quality Genovese food, like pansotti, vegetable cakes, baccala, lepre, brasato.
Only the best of Genoese food. This antique restaurant has been serving port workers, and nobility alike for the past couple of centuries. Great for torte and farinata.
Allegedly one of Frank Sinatra's favourite restaurants (apparently he had them send him regular supplies of their pesto), Zeffirino is one of Genoa's gems. Hidden up a long flight of steps just off Via XX Settembre in the heart of Genoa, it can be a little hard to find but well worth it. Stunning food, truly excellent service and a beautifully appointed dining room makes for a memorable lunch or dinner.
Completely renewed, in the front of the railways station Porta Principe, all the main attractions are within walking distance.
(to reach from the center by bus no. 40)
An agency that rents local bed & breakfast accommodations in Genoa. They also rent accommodations in the surrounding area and short-let apartments.
In the city center of the old town.
A B&B in Central Genoa.
Situated in the historical center of the city and close to Porto Antico. Single room from €5, double room from €60.
The Hotel Minerva is located in Santa Margherita Ligure in a quiet area a short walk from the beaches
This 4* hotel is in the heart of the financial district and is just a short distance from many well-known tourist attractions.
Locanda di Palazzo Cicala has all the magic of a "hotel de charme". It is in the very heart of the historic city centre, opposite S. Lorenzo Cathedral, just a short walk from the Old Harbour, the Cotone Congressi congress centre and the art exhibitions in Palazzo Ducale.
Built in 1905, the hotel has hosted many notable guests such as Emperor Hirohito of Japan
MOG
Lively covered market for produce and baked goods, with restaurants in the middle. Orientale here means "eastern", for the market's location in the eastern part of Genoa.
By train
It is easy to travel to Genoa by train from Milan, Turin, Rome, Tuscany (Pisa, Livorno and Florence (changing train in Pisa or Viareggio)) and France (changing train in Ventimiglia).
By car
Coming from Milan you can reach Genoa via the A7-E62 (approx. 145 km).
By bus
Genoa can be reached via Flixbus coach from many European countries. Long distance buses also run from Nice.
By boat
Terminal Traghetti has ferries from Barcelona (Grandi Navi Veloci, daily, 18 hours), Tangier (Grandi Navi Veloci, weekly, 46 hours), Valletta on Malta, Bastia on Corsica, Olbia and Porto Torres on…
Public transportation
Public transportation will probably be your best bet within the city. The bus network is operated by AMT and services the whole city until 01:00.g.
By taxi
Radio Taxi Genova provides taxi services; call +39 010 5966 or download their app. Taxis also line up at some tourist attractions.
By boat
AMT also operates a public boat service called Navebus (see timetable) connecting the Porto Antico to Pegli.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Genova (GE) · International · GOA
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