Genova -Genoa

The fountain in Piazza de Ferrari

The main features of central Genoa to be seen are:  Piazza de Ferrari, around which are sited the Opera and the...

• Palace of the Doges - The building was first erected as Palace of the People's Captains and then it became, with the Dogate, the Palazzo Ducale, residence of the first Doge Simon Boccanegra, in 1339.  Since then, it was the symbol of power and residence of the Doges. After fires and destructions, many parts of the building were modified, changing its shape and proportions to the ones we can admire today.  Reopened in 1992, for the Columbus celebrations, at present it is used for many different functions, centre of exhibitions, social and cultural initiatives.  The places that once were seat of the Magistracy of the Republic, are now seat of trade activities and offices open to the public like bars, restaurants, art galleries, libraries, information points, ticket office for the exhibitions, and craftsmen's stores linked to the tradition and the culture of the region.  

• Christopher Columbus - the exact origin, beside his place and date of birth, has been the source of some speculation since the 19^th century although historical consensus claims he was Genoese. There are several competing theories regarding his national origin. There is also a house where Christopher Columbus is said to have been born. 

His house, "Or what is left of it" says the sign, but is not.   It's nothing more than a few stones piled together to form a structure barely big enough to breath in.  It is the remains of a house from that period.  The fake "additions" placed around is to offer you the supposed feeling of accuracy, but rather it just adds to your realization that once you handed your money in at the entrance and walked through the tiny doorway that you had been ripped off. 

No reason at all to believe that the great navigator who discovered the Americas lived here, he may have, of course.    It's very close to the Palazzo Ducale and on the edge of the old quarter, so no harm to allow yourself to have a glance at it!
 

Just at the left of the house there is St. Andrew's Cloister, which is the only surviving part of the omonymous monastery.    The cloister was not originally located in the present site, but was moved there later, when the monastery was demolished to open the modern square.   

Porta Soprana		Palazzo San Giorgio - 1260		Garibaldi's  (supposed) house

Strada Nuova (now Via Garibaldi), in the old city, was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2006.  This district was designed in the mid-16^th century to accommodate Mannerist palaces of the city's most eminent families, including Palazzo Rosso (now a museum), Palazzo Bianco, Palazzo Grimaldi and Palazzo Reale.   The famous art college, Musei di Strada Nuova and the Palazzo del Principe are also located on this street.

Other landmarks of the city: 

• Cattedrale di San Lorenzo (San Lorenzo Cathedral) is located within the heart of old Genoa. This medieval cathedral was consecrated in 1118 and named after St. Lawrence, who passed through the city on his way to Rome.   For hundreds of years, the building was used for both state and religious purposes.
 

San Lorenzo suggestive narrow facade between the two towers presents the local typical Genoan style-gothic portals while the marbled statues of the two lions date back to the 19th century; they seem to watch over the Cathedral.   It is beautifully constructed with a striking contrast of black slate and white marble. The black-and-white pattern adorns the facade in the Pisan style and spread over the upper rows of the facade; these rows belong to different periods.   The internal of the cathedral, features three aisles divided by columns surmounted by false gothic matroneoes and by Romanesque arches. The central aisle is entirely covered by  marble with beautiful barrel vaults along the aisles, the dome, bell tower.   The apses area were all elegantly designed and date back to the 16th century.

At the left aisle you can enter the St Lawrence's Treasure Museum where you can admire sacred privileged objects such as the  Sacro Catino  that, according to the  Catholics, is the dish used by Jesus in the Last Supper. 

The Chapel of St. John the Baptist, with interesting Renaissance sculpture is said to contain remains of the saint for whom it was named.
 

Admission is free. Tues - Sat 9-11:30am and 3-5:30pm

• Cemetery of Staglieno, famous and  renowned for its monuments and statues.  Staglieno owes its popularity and historic value not only to the fame of the great personalities who rest there but, above all, to its many sculptural and architectural monuments which share the same area creating a variegated harmony.  Althought still unfinished, the cemetery was officially inaugurated on January 1, 1851.  

Giovanni Battista Resasco was entrusted to continue the original project of his master, the architect Carlo Barabino (1768-1835). The architecture of the cemetery reveals the same Neoclassic style of many representative Genoese buildings of that period, such as the Carlo Felice Theatre and the Palazzo dell'Accademia.  The plant of the original nucleus is quadrangular; in the run of the years the cemetery spread up to include the surrounding vegetation, creating a very picturesque fusion with the natural environment.

The artistic languages of over a century, from Neoclassicism to Realism, up to Symbolism, Art Nouveau, Art Deco and on, are here displayed and they find their interpreters in a school of sculptors whose works are known far beyond the regional and national borders.    Nietzsche, Guy de Maupassant, Mark Twain and Elisabeth of Austria (the famous Empress Sissi) are some of the many great historic  and literary scholars, travellers, artists and philosophers who were deeply fascinated by Staglieno and left written testimonies of their impressions.  

• Museo d'Arte Orientale has one of the largest collections of Oriental art in Europe.

• Porto Antico -  Old Port - The layout of the whole area and the various architectural constructions in the "Old Port" has been a link between the historical center and the sea since Genoa was born.   It used to be a Port of Call until beginning '80 then it was restored by Architect Renzo Piano for the international Expo of 1992 in commemoration of the 5^th centenary of the discovery of America, have now become a perfect example of the coexistence of old buildings and modern edifices. 

Its mission is to educate and raise public awareness as regards conservation, management and responsible use of aquatic environments.  It welcomes over 1.2 million visitors a year.  People are used to calling this port "expo" because of the "Expo 1992" (World Exposition 1992), on that occasion this beautiful area was given back to Genoese.

 • Aquarium of Genoa which is billed to be one of the largest in Europe is also part of the layout.   It is an educational, scientific and cultural centre and is co-ordinating the AquaRing project.  The aquarium  also provides scientific expertise and a great deal of content for AquaRing, including documents, images, academic content and interactive online courses, via its Online Resource Centre.

Aquarium and the  bigo

It has the requisite sharks, penguins and dolphins that draw visitors to most major aquariums. But it also has a really neat exhibit of skates and rays, where you can touch their soft bodies.  Another section highlights the contributions of world-traveling naturalists, including Charles Darwin. A tank of coral from the Red Sea is packed with colorful and outlandish- looking fish.  This stop is certain to entertain children and adults. 

• Bigo - the distinctive Bigo revolving panoramic lift offers an unusual full-circle view of Genoa, rising to a height of 40 metres from the ground, and with a capacity of 66.

• Biosfera/Bubble (Bolla) - close to the Acquarium, is a glass and steel globe structure which measures 20 m. in diameter and weighs 60 tons.  Designed by Renzo Piano, it was built and placed in the Porto Antico area on occasion of the G8 Summit held in Genoa in 2001.  It is  and hosts different types of ferns. Thanks to a sophisticated "system of sails" this tropical environment is protected from the direct irradiation of the sun. The historical botanical collections owned by Genoa City Council supplied some rare specimens of tropical plants.
 

This is a magical place where you can learn a lot of things due to the generous aid of the biologists who will be guiding you during the visit.   Since October 2003, the "Bubble", as it is commonly called, has hosted a complex ensemble of tropical animals such as iguanas, butterflies, birds from Brasil, cacatua, tangare etc., in addition to the vegetal organisms.

• La Lanterna - the Port of Genoa contains the most important, Ancient lighthouse called La Lanterna (i.e., "the lantern").    It is ....

The Lanterna has welcomed vessels and boats and guided them into the harbour for centuries. The Lanterna, as we see it today, was built in 1543; unofficial sources, however, date back to 1128 the building on this site of the first tower intended to assist navigators.

Today visitors can climb 172 steps, reach the first terrace (76 m. above the sea level), and enjoy the breathtaking view of the port and the old city.  

		Il  Galeone di Nettuno
La Lanterna

La Lanterna under the morning dawn

The whole area was restored by the Provincia di Genova between 1995 and 2004 and its other attractions, apart from the Lanterna, are the Promenade and the Museum.

• The Promenade is a pedestrian route of about 800 metres. It begins at the Terminal Traghetti (the Ferry-Boat Terminal) and leads the visitor to the Fortifications, the Lanterna and the Museum.   Overlooking the quays, the Promenade enjoys an interesting view of the port and its activities.

•  The Museum, housed in the scenic setting of the Savoy fortifications (1830), is not only the obvious place where to exhibit lamps, lenses and other lighthouse-related objects.  Its broader aim is to display and promote the preservation of material culture of Genoa and its territory.  The Museum displays on 39 TV sets filmed sequences on Genoa and its port, and footage of interviews with people from every walk of life who can claim a contribution to the making of the present day Genoa.  The aim is to provide insight into the history, art, traditions, and peoples of the city.

• Galata Maritime Museum (Galata Museo del Mare) a square glass structure at the harbour’s edge and is the largest attraction in Italy dealing with the age-old relationship between man and the sea.  It is situated in the Old Port in the former naval arsenal of the Republic of Genoa, the oldest of the buildings of the municipal docks, 16^th century galley-style building restored by the Spanish architect Guillermo Vasquez Consuegra, who covered the building with steel, glass and wood. 

With more than 10,000 square metres of exhibition space is now the largest maritime museum in the Mediterranean.   It is arranged chronologically, the tour gets underway on the ground floor from the age of oared vessels then continues on the first and second floors on the route of the sailing ships and revolutionary geographical explorations, before ending on the third floor that houses the rotating exhibitions.

Other highlights of the Galata are the full-sized model of a brigantine and a great exhibit where an IMAX-style movie helps you imagine you are in a rowboat during an Atlantic storm.  A small Columbus exhibition offers a portrait of the man and a couple of illegible old documents providing incontestable proof of his Genovese origins.

 Finally, the flat rooftop terrace which has glass walls provides an exceptional panorama of the city and the port below.

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Sarzana

The city preserves two castles, the Firmafede fortress, built by the Pisans and the Sarzanello fortress, ancient bishops residence.  Today the XVI century walled suburb is almost intact with the ancient walls and four towers.  The main streets are Via Bertoloni and Via Mazzini, among Porta Parma and Porta Romana, along the Via Francigena.   

Here we find an impressive number of buildings and churches: the Remedi Palace, the Podestà Lucciardi Palace, the Townhall, the church of Sant'Andrea, the most ancient sacred building of Sarzana, the palace Picedi Benettini, the Episcopal palace, the Cathedral of santa Maria Assunta, the Impavidi Theatre and the many works in wrought iron, characteristic of the city. 

In the outskirtses, it is possible to visit the village of Falcinello, sunbathe in Marinella di Sarzana beaches or visiting the Roman ruins of Luni, in the nearby Ortonovo.