{"id":32096,"date":"2022-01-14T15:10:16","date_gmt":"2022-01-14T14:10:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bellitalie.org\/?post_type=destination&p=32096"},"modified":"2026-09-30T14:05:14","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T12:05:14","slug":"what-to-see-in-genoa","status":"publish","type":"destination","link":"https:\/\/www.bellitalie.org\/en\/destination\/liguria\/genoa\/what-to-see-in-genoa\/","title":{"rendered":"What to see in Genoa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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There are two main areas of Genoa to discover. They are the old port<\/a><\/strong>, with the Aquarium and the maritime museum, and the historic centre<\/strong><\/a>, whose old town is one of the largest in Europe.
Consult the map with the location of the sites<\/a> at the end of the article.<\/p>\n

1. Historic centre and carruggi<\/h2>\n

\"Photo<\/a>The old town of Genoa<\/strong> is one of the largest historic centres in Europe, a fascinating neighbourhood full of history, recently revitalised after decades of neglect. Its winding alleys of medieval origin are called carruggi<\/em>, leading to many small squares and passing by lordly palaces and historic churches. This lively neighbourhood also has no shortage of bars, small shops, craftsmen and workshops.<\/p>\n<\/i> See: Historic centre of Genoa<\/span><\/a>\n

2. The old port<\/h2>\n

\"porto<\/a>The old port of Genoa, the Porto Antico<\/em><\/strong>, was for centuries the lung of the city with its important trading activity.
It was redeveloped by Renzo Piano in the 1990s to become a vast space devoted to tourism and culture, with shops, a swimming pool, cinemas and restaurants in the former Cotton warehouses<\/strong>, and above all the important Aquarium<\/strong> of Genoa. Beside it, the Biosphere<\/strong> protects an exotic biotope, the Galata museum<\/strong>, is the largest in the Mediterranean dedicated to the sea, the Bigo<\/strong> is an original structure with a panoramic gondola, a galleon is usually anchored. Opposite, along the historic centre, are old houses and the Sottoripa gallery<\/p>\n<\/i> Old port of Genoa<\/span><\/a>\n

3. Aquarium<\/h2>\n

The aquarium<\/strong> is for many the main attraction of Genoa, being the largest in Italy and the second in Europe after the one in Valencia, located on the Old Port. It houses nearly 10,000 specimens of 800 species, 70 tanks, with reconstituted natural habitats, from various places on the planet. Besides the many marine species and fish of all kinds, there are also land creatures from rivers, marshes, lakes and coastlines, including for example sharks, seals, dolphins, turtles, penguins.
A recent pavilion allows you to cross the dolphin tank through a tunnel.<\/p>\n<\/i> Aquarium of Genoa<\/span><\/a>\n

4. Via Garibaldi and museums of the Strada Nuova<\/h2>\n

\"Photo<\/a>Today’s Via Garibaldi was called “Strada Nuova” – the new road – in the mid-16th century, and even “Via Aurea” – golden street – for its sumptuous palaces, twelve in number, such as the Cambioso palace, Carrega Cataldi palace, Podest\u00e0 palace or Dorio-Spinola palace. A museum route (Musei di Strada Nuova<\/em>), which has become the largest in Genoa, links the Rosso Palace, Bianco Palace and Doria Tursi Palace. Besides the decorated rooms and their furniture, several art collections are kept here, such as that of Brignole and Sale in the first palace. The second houses a collection of Italian and European painting from the 16th to the 18th centuries, and the Tursi palace a collection of decorative art, Paganini’s violins, etc.<\/p>\n<\/i> Museums of the Strada Nuova<\/span><\/a>\n

5. Palazzi dei Rolli<\/h2>\n

\"Photo<\/a>At the height of the power of the Republic of Genoa, the aristocracy built between the 16th and 17th centuries sumptuous palaces along via Garibaldi for the most important one, as well as via Bensa, via Balbi and via Cairoli.
They formed the Palazzi dei Rolli<\/strong>, late Renaissance and Baroque, which were intended by decree of the city senate to host illustrious figures passing through Genoa. In 2006, 42 of these palaces were inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Some can be visited at weekends or during the Rolli Days. With three or four storeys, they generally have monumental open staircases, courtyards and gardens, and the interiors have preserved their decorations.<\/p>\n<\/i> Palazzi dei Rolli<\/span><\/a>\n

6. Galata Sea Museum<\/h2>\n

\"Museo<\/a>The Galata Sea Museum<\/strong> is the largest museum in the Mediterranean dedicated to the maritime world. The visitor is immersed in the world of navigation, its history and its sailors, thanks to the reproduction of boats of all sizes and all eras, instruments and nautical charts, accompanied by multimedia supports. Thus one can see rowing boats, sailing ships, steamships, ocean liners; maritime explorations, including those of Christopher Columbus, or migrations. In particular, one can walk inside a galley and a real military submarine.<\/p>\n<\/i> Galata Sea Museum<\/span><\/a>\n

7. The Lanterna<\/h2>\n
\"lanterno<\/a>

View from the 19th century<\/p><\/div>\n

The Lanterna designates the lighthouse of Genoa<\/strong>, the guardian of the port that has become the symbol of the city, 77 metres tall on its hill 40 metres above sea level. It is the largest lighthouse in the Mediterranean. Built in the 14th century, it was rebuilt in the 16th century. Its staircase has 172 steps and an educational trail of nearly one kilometre allows you to reach it on foot.<\/p>\n<\/i> Lanterna of Genoa<\/span><\/a>\n

8. San Lorenzo Cathedral and diocesan museum<\/h2>\n

\"cattedrale<\/a>Erected in the 9th century, the majestic Saint Lawrence Cathedral<\/strong> (San Lorenzo) was erected in the 9th century, remodelled several times until the 16th century. It mixes different architectural styles, both outside and inside. Its beautiful Romanesque fa\u00e7ade with black and white bands is essentially from the 13th century, with Gothic elements such as the rose window and the portals.
The interior preserves numerous sculptures, frescoes, paintings, relics including the beautiful Chapel of Saint John the Baptist<\/em> from the 14th-15th centuries, or the treasury museum.
The nearby Diocesan museum<\/strong> preserves archaeological remains, sacred objects, a collection of hangings including the first jeans<\/em> of the sailors.
<\/em><\/p>\n<\/i> Saint Lawrence Cathedral of Genoa<\/span><\/a>\n

9. Basilica Santissima Annunziata del Vastato<\/h2>\n

The basilica Santissima Annunziata del Vastato<\/b> <\/strong>is one of the most important religious buildings in Genoa, a Baroque jewel of Genoese art built in the 16th century, characteristic of late Mannerism and 17th-century Baroque.
The sumptuous interior is indeed supported by large marble columns, with polychrome marble inlays, and a profusion of gilding and frescoes on the vaults. It preserves very beautiful works, trompe-l’\u0153il in the dome. The neoclassical fa\u00e7ade is a creation of the early 19th century.<\/p>\n

10. Porta Soprana, Sant’Andrea and Columbus’s house<\/h2>\n

\"Soprana<\/a>The historic neighbourhood known as Piano di Sant’Andrea<\/strong>, is the remainder of this medieval neighbourhood, where the pretty Sant’Andrea cloister<\/strong> is found, dating back to the 12th century near the old medieval walls. The Porta Soprana<\/strong>, is one of the two beautiful gate-towers of Genoa.
Nearby, the House of Christopher Columbus<\/strong> is a house-museum dedicated to the discoverer of the Americas where he is said to have lived as a child, rebuilt in the 18th century.<\/p>\n<\/i> Sant’Andrea neighbourhood, Porta Soprana and Christopher Columbus’s House<\/span><\/a>\n

11. Doge’s Palace<\/h2>\n
\"doge's<\/a>

Doge’s Palace<\/p><\/div>\n

Near the basilica of San Lorenzo and Piazza de Ferrari, the Palace of the Doges<\/strong> (or Ducal Palace<\/strong>) was built at the end of the 13th century, incorporating an older palace. It was largely rebuilt at the end of the 18th century in a neoclassical style.
Nowadays, it houses exhibition spaces and preserves beautiful decorated halls, courtyards, some works of art, the old prisons, and medieval elements from the old palace such as the Grimaldina tower<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

12. Piazza de Ferrari and Carlo Felice Theatre<\/h2>\n

\"Photo<\/a>The Piazza de Ferrari<\/strong> is one of the most famous in the city, the heart of the business district, separating the historic and modern neighbourhoods, with its large fountain in the middle located opposite the Doge’s Palace.
Nearby, the Carlo Felice Opera Theatre<\/strong> is one of the most important opera houses in Italy, inaugurated in 1828, but rebuilt with a modern interior after the destruction of the Second World War.<\/p>\n

13. Basilica and convent of Santa Maria di Castello<\/h2>\n

\"Photo<\/a>Located in one of the oldest neighbourhoods on the site of an ancient Lombard temple, Santa Maria di Castello<\/strong> is one of the most interesting religious complexes in Genoa. It comprises the Romanesque basilica, the convent and an adjacent museum.
The fa\u00e7ade and the bell tower are typically Romanesque, with an architrave above the portal. The Romanesque interior is supported by beautiful columns with decorated capitals. The chapels and vaults preserve beautiful works by artists of the Genoese school<\/strong>, and one of the cloisters is decorated with frescoes.
The adjacent museum <\/strong>around the three cloisters preserves art objects, paintings, manuscripts, 15th-century frescoesth<\/sup> and a superb collection of Russian icons.<\/p>\n

14. Panorama from the Spianata Castelletto<\/h2>\n
\"Photo<\/a>

View of Castelletto in 1941<\/p><\/div>\n

It is possible to reach the viewpoint of Spianata Castelletto<\/strong> from a lift on Piazza Portello, with its beautiful general view over the city.<\/p>\n

15. Other places in Genoa<\/h2>\n

Church of Saint Stephen<\/h3>\n

Built on the ruins of a small 5th-century church, today overlooking Via XX Settembre, Saint Stephen<\/strong> (Santo Stefano<\/em> in Italian) is one of the most beautiful churches in Genoa, consecrated in 972.
Heavily remodelled in the 19th century, it preserves an old bell tower, an austere nave, an octagonal dome made in the 14th century and a crypt.<\/p>\n\n\t\t