General Sightseeing and Orientation in Genoa

As the capital of Liguria, one of Italy’s smallest regions and one of the most beautiful - with its lush vegetation, mild climate, rugged coast line and popular seaside resorts - Genoa offers visitors a great variety of experiences, ranging from its maritime history to the tasting of its great cuisine. Genoa is a big, modern city with theatres, museums, restaurants, cafes, shopping centers and stores of every kind. It is a historic city, with medieval and renaissance palaces and streets. The city is a refined seaside resort with fine 16th century palaces, which was the native home of Christopher Columbus. The old town is a maze of narrow streets, leading to the old port in contrast to the new town which is spread out in the nearby hills. The port of Genoa has a renovated inner harbor with the largest aquarium in Europe.

With its ideal location, at the center of the Italian Riviera, Genoa is close to Portofino and the Cinqueterre which offer stunning views of Liguria’s rugged coast and its beauty. For the year 2004, Genoa has been chosen to be the cultural capital of Europe.

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Places to Visit in Genoa

The Aquarium
Old Port
Spinola Bridge
Genoa

The Aquarium is unique in Europe as it has some of the largest tanks in the world, the 48 tanks are home to over 500 animal species and can be observed over two viewing levels at the bottom of the sea and at the surface of the water. This is a must see on your visit to Genoa.

Museum of the Linguistic Academy of Fine Arts
Largo Pertini 4
Genoa

The Museum of the Linguistic Academy of Fine Arts was founded in 1751 as a school for painting and sculpture. The first floor is home to a number of works by 14th to 19th century Ligurian painters.

Passeggiata di Nervi
Via Anita Garibaldi
Genoa

The Passeggiata di Nervi is a trail carved into the rock that weaves through the little port of Nervi. Nervi is a picturesque port with pastel coloured houses and the splendid villas of Capolungo, whose park leads to the sea. It is easy to walk along the trail in all seasons and offers incomparable views over the eastern Riviera. Along the route there are numerous bars, ice cream shops, restaurants and night clubs, as well as a sixteenth century look-out tower which stands over the cliffs and reefs.

Museum of Ligurian Architecture and Sculpture
Piazza Sarzano, 35r
Genoa

This museum is located in the Ancient Convento di S. Agostino and houses the most important architectural fragments, sculptures and detached frescoes of Genoa. The museum exhibition is laid out in chronological order on various floors, and allows visitors to observe important sculptures. Admission is free on Sundays.

Piazza San Matteo

The Piazza San Matteo is one of the most interesting Piazza in the centre of Genoa. Medieval in origin it is surrounded by the homes of the Doria and the church of San Matteo. The church us decorated with an antique mosaic and the crypt is the tomb of the Admiral Andrea Doria.

Genoa European City of Culture 2004 - information on events