Genoa’s Old Port and Aquarium

The Old Port of Genoa (the Porto Antico in Italian) lies where commercial activity was for centuries the lung of the city, in the immediate vicinity of the old historic center.
It was redeveloped by the Italian architect Renzo Piano in the early 1990s to become a vast space devoted to tourism and culture, with shops, a swimming pool, cinemas, restaurants, and above all the important Aquarium. This redevelopment was completed in 1992 with the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus, a native of Genoa.

Genoa Aquarium

The Genoa Aquarium is the city’s main attraction linked to the marine world, inaugurated in 1992 near the old port. It is the largest in Italy with nearly 800 species and 70 tanks, and the 3rd largest in Europe. But it is the one with the greatest variety.
There you can see marine and land species (from rivers, marshes, lakes and coasts), including tropical fish, sharks, seals, dolphins, turtles, penguins, moray eels, starfish, luminescent jellyfish, and even manatees. In particular, the recent “Cetacean Pavilion” designed by Renzo Piano allows you to cross the dolphin pool through a tunnel, or even enjoy the restaurant here. Among the other pavilions, there is an “Ice Kingdom”, a “Mermaid Lagoon”, the “Moray Eel Grotto”, the “Seal Island”, the “Jellyfish Room”, the “Shark Bay”, and the “Biodiversity Pavilion” with corals.
Several discovery programs are offered, including “With the Dolphins” or “With the Penguins”, to get closer to these animals and discover certain activities.
The price depends on the choice of visit (between 5 and 31 euros).

The Neptune Galleon

Moored facing the old port, the Neptune Galleon is a faithful reconstruction of a wooden galleon 63 meters long, built in 1986 in the Tunisian shipyards of Port El Kantaoui. It served several times as a film set.
Although fully functional, it has rarely moved from the port of Genoa.
It can be visited, with its cabins, hold and cannons on display.

Galata Sea Museum

The Galata Sea Museum is the largest in the Mediterranean dedicated to the marine world. It explores the history of the sea, immersing the visitor in the world of navigation and the life of sailors, with the reproduction and exhibition of boats of all sizes and all eras, instruments and nautical charts dating back to the Middle Ages, atlases, accompanied by multimedia supports.
In full size or as models are rowing boats, sailing ships, clippers, steamboats and ocean liners, retracing the entire history of navigation and exploration, from the Maritime Republic of Genoa, with Christopher Columbus, to migrations by sea. A panoramic terrace offers a beautiful view of the port.
In particular, it is possible to visit the interior of a galley, experience a storm in a dedicated immersive room, and even explore a 1980s Nazario Sauro military submarine in the museum’s outdoor extension.

Biosphere and Bigo

the Biosphere (Biosfera) is a bubble of steel and glass where many animals and exotic plants live in a tropical atmosphere, built by Renzo Piano.

The Bigo is the curious object created by Renzo Piano for the 1992 expo, serving as a panoramic gondola, inspired by the old dock cranes (which, moreover, are called “bigo” in Genoa). It lifts the visitor to 40 meters in height, in groups of 8 people maximum.

Cotton Warehouses

The Cotton Warehouses (Magazzini del Cotone) are the former “cotton warehouses” of Genoa from the end of the 19th century, covering more than 30,000 square meters to store, besides cotton, various goods.
They were rehabilitated for 1992 with a Congress Center, the Space Cinema (a movie multiplex with 10 screens), bars and restaurants, the Children’s City, etc.

The City of Children and Teenagers

It is a 2000 square meter space for children, with a play area, even for the very little ones, like a small enchanted forest, a playful construction site, scientific and technical experiments related to water, mirrors, an anthill, a TV studio for the older ones, etc.

Other places around the port

The Isola delle Chiatte is a large floating structure, built with old barges, creating a pretty promenade in the port.
There is also a swimming pool with a children’s pool and jacuzzi, solarium, etc.
Facing the port, there are beautiful buildings of medieval origin, as well as the Porta della Siberia from the 16th century that stood in the old wall.
The Piazza Caricamento is lined with old houses and the Sottoripa passage.

Gallery

Map

Information

• Information: en.wikipedia.org
• Tourist portals: portoantico.it, marinaportoantico.it, www.visitgenoa.it