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    • Genoa

    Genoa travel guide

    View Italy travel guide

    Overview

    Those of us who remember our history books recognise Genoa as the birthplace of famous explorer Christopher Columbus. While always an important port city in Italy, for decades Genoa languished behind Rome, Venice and Milan as the tourists passed it by.

    This changed dramatically after the European Union nominated Genoa as the European Capital of Culture in 2004. Cruise ships docking in the Porto Antico now bring visitors by the thousands, and travellers in Italy are making time in their itineraries to spend several days on holiday in Genoa.

    This tourism renaissance is well-deserved, as there are many beautiful and fascinating tourist attractions in Genoa. The medieval district is filled with stunning marble churches and stately palaces, grouped around scenic plazas like the Piazza San Matteo and the Piazza Dante. Visitors should be sure to look for the famous frescoes of the Church of Sant'Agostino and the fanciful Gothic carvings of the Cattedrale San Lorenzo, while the Via Garibaldi has a number of impressive Baroque buildings. There are many interesting museums in the city too, dedicated to everything from cultural and natural history to the navy, cathedrals and royalty of the city's past. There are no fewer than five art museums in Genoa.

    Though it's Italy's largest medieval town, Genoa's present is just as vibrant as its past. The streets are always buzzing with life and visitors are spoiled for choice when it comes to restaurants, shops and entertainment. The Porto Antico on the harbour front has been rebuilt from a utilitarian dock to an entertainment area with museums, cinemas and restaurants, as well as one of the biggest aquariums in Europe along the pretty promenade.

    Genoa makes a good base to explore the other towns along the Italian Riviera, including Portofino, Cinque Terre, Rapallo and La Spezia.

    Genoa Aquarium

    Genoa is home to the Acquario di Genova, which is the second-largest aquarium in Europe and the best in Italy. The ship-like building on the promenade houses no fewer than 50 habitats, ranging from the Amazon basin and Red Sea coral reefs to Antarctic penguin pools. Hundreds of species call the aquarium home, such as seals, dolphins, caiman, piranhas, jellyfish, sea turtles and sharks. It's a fantastic family attraction in Genoa, giving kids a fun break from traditional sightseeing. Unexpectedly, the aquarium also has a hummingbird sanctuary.

    Address: Ponte Spinola
    Website: www.acquariodigenova.it
    Jellyfish Jellyfish Gary Bembridge
    Palazzo Tursi

    Formerly Genoa's City Hall, the Palazzo Tursi is the largest and most majestic of all the magnificent buildings on the Via Garibaldi. Built in 1565, the building is now a museum housing unique artefacts like the violin of Nicolo Paganini, and ashes that are said to be the remains of Christopher Colombus. The museum also contains numerous decorative artworks, like tapestries, furniture and Ligurian ceramics, as well as historical artefacts such as ancient coins and medical devices. On sunny days, you can break from the museum's collections and just enjoy the beauty of the building's many-columned interior courtyard. The museums are known collectively as the Musei di Strada Nuova and the individual buildings are the Palazzo Bianco, Palazzo Rosso and Palazzo Tursi.

    Address: 9 Via Garibaldi
    Website: www.museidigenova.it/it/content/palazzo-tursi
    Palazzo Tursi Palazzo Tursi Andrea Puggioni
    Museum of Sant' Agostino

    The 13th-century church and monastery of Sant'Agostino was built by the Augustinians in 1260, now one of the few Gothic buildings remaining in Genoa. Its cloisters are a museum housing more than 4,000 works, such as metal and stone sculptures, frescoes and many architectural artefacts. Although not large, the museum is one of the most popular attractions in Genoa. The museum is gradually linking its artefacts to mobile phone guides in English and Italian but this project is in its infancy.

    Address: Piazza Sarzano
    Website: www.museidigenova.it/spip.php?rubrique262
    Museum Sant Agostino Museum Sant Agostino Twice25

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    English Pronounciation

    Genoa is located on the Mediterranean, but is sheltered by the hills and mountains in the area, giving it a temperate climate with warm, dry summers and cool winters. The coldest months are December through February, with average temperatures dropping to 43°F (6°C). Summers in Genoa are long, lasting from May to October; in the warmest months (July and August) average highs peak around 82°F (28°C). September to January is the rainiest time of year. Genoa is rather windy, especially during winter. The best time to visit Genoa is in the spring, particularly May, when the weather is pleasant and the crowds are small.

    Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport
    Location: The airport is located about four miles (7km) from Genoa.
    Time: GMT +1 (GMT +2 from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in September).
    Getting to the city: The Volabus shuttle departs the airport every 30-60 minutes from around 6am to midnight, heading to the Brignole and Principe Train Stations via the city centre. Tickets can be bought from the airport or on the bus. Another option is the i24 service which links the airport to Sestri railway station.
    Car Rental: Car hire companies at Genoa Airport include Avis, Budget, Sixt, Europcar, Hertz and Maggiore.
    Airport Taxis: Taxis are available outside the arrival concourse. The official airport taxi company is Radio Taxi. Flat rates to the major train stations are available for shared cabs.
    Facilities: There are restaurants and bars, shops, ATMs, VIP lounges, a lost and found, and information services at the airport. An airport hotel is also available, and the airport has meeting facilities.
    Parking There is parking available within walking distance of the terminal. It is possible to pay by either cash or card at either the automatic pay points, or at the manned pay station (between the hours of 4pm and midnight only).
    Website: www.airport.genova.it

    The AMT bus network is generally considered the best way to get around in Genoa. There is also a network of trains that connects the Brignole train station to the town centre and the Stazione Principe (main train station), but this isn't as comprehensive. Tickets are available from newspaper kiosks or stations.

    AMT also operates a public boat service called Navebus, which connects Porto Antico to Pegli, and offers good views of the city. Driving is often said to be the fastest way to get around Genoa, but finding a parking space can be a nightmare. Visitors who opt to hire a car in Genoa will find it easiest to park outside the city centre, as most attractions within are in easy walking distance of one another.

    It's perhaps odd that the largest medieval town in Italy, blessed with untold cultural riches, is best known among travellers for its aquarium. The second-largest in Europe, Genoa's Aquarium is no doubt worth a visit, particularly for those travelling with kids, but the greatest tourist attractions in Genoa are the palaces, churches and piazzas of the medieval old town. Indeed, Genoa has something around 42 palaces.

    Some of the most notable landmarks are the Basilica of Santa Maria di Castello, the Palazzi dei Rolli, the Duomo di Genova, the Royal Palace Museum, the 13th-century church and monastery of Sant'Agostino and Palazzo Tursi, formerly Genoa's City Hall. A stroll down the Via Garibaldi is a must, as is a walk along Genoa's promenade, the Passeggiata Anita Garibaldi a Nervi.

    Eating is a celebrated tourist activity in Genoa, and the city's restaurant scene is one of its attractions. Among the many delights that Italian cuisine has brought to the world, Genoa can claim two as its own: the city was the birthplace of pesto sauce, traditionally made from herbs, olive oil and pine nuts; and focaccia, a kind of flat oven-baked bread topped with olive oil and white wine. The old town of the city has many good restaurants, and there's also a great selection in Porto Antico down by the harbour.

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    Companies flying to Genoa

    British Airways