What is worth seeing in Genoa? What to see in Genoa: the main attractions What is kept in the Museum of Genoa

TOURISTS ANSWERS:

For some reason, when describing the sights of Genoa, everyone forgets (or does not know) about one important point.

Genoa really has a rich history and is rich in objects of architecture and art. Moreover, in 2004 it was designated as the cultural capital of the whole of Europe. It is a fact.

But the direct relation to music is undeservedly deprived of attention.

But Genoa is not only the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. In this city on October 27, 1782, a boy was born who was destined to become the greatest and unsurpassed violin master - Nicolo Paganini !

Garibaldi street(Via Garibaldi) is considered to be the most beautiful street in Genoa. Every house here is a luxurious palace. And in 2006 it was included in list of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites... I will not talk about all the palaces, I will dwell in more detail on the house number 9. This is Palazzo Doria Tursi. And it was this palace that was the main goal of our trip to Genoa.

Doria-Tursi Palace was built in 1565. Initially, it was one of those Genoese palaces (there are three of them in total), the apartments of which were provided to the most important guests of Genoa who visited the city on official visits - kings, emperors and popes.

From the middle of the 19th century to the present time, it is located municipality of Genoa... In addition (which is important), several halls of the building are actually provided to the museum, located in the neighboring palazzo Bianco. The most important exhibit and pride of the museum is the famous violin played by Nicolo Paganini “ Canon"(" Il Cannone "). It has been kept there since 1851. The violin occupies its place of honor in a relatively small room just in the city hall.

But the path to Paganini's violin turned out to be a thorny one. I think, without knowing one subtlety, you can leave Genoa without seeing this unique item ...

So. We got to Genoa on a day off. The city hall was opened for free access. Is free. The courtyard is quite beautiful: there are many columns, a beautiful staircase, a large number of sculptures, an interesting clock tower from an artistic point of view. Everything is done in white and pink colors. Nice. But there is no one at all! And there is no one to ask ...

We wandered the stairs, corridors and floors in search of a violin. We looked through the glass at the meeting room. But! The required entrance was not found. All doors inside the municipality were closed. I only managed to see through the keyhole of one of the doors an inscription indicating that it was in that room that Paganini's violin was kept. And the door is closed.

Having decided that we had arrived “successfully” on a non-reception day, we got ready to leave. On leaving we went to the municipality's gift shop. Purely by chance, after asking the seller, I found out that you can see the violin every day... You just need to go first to Palazzo Bianco, this is an adjacent building. And already there, moving through the galleries of the museum, we will gradually find ourselves in the desired hall.

A little later, we learned that everything is so confusing due to the fact that Palazzo Bianco is also the property of the municipality. And since the end of the 19th century, the palace has gradually turned into an art gallery.

The entrance to the museum cost us 8 euros per person. Outwardly, this palace with a characteristic white facade is not very noticeable. But here is really one of the most serious collections of paintings in Genoa. We saw paintings by famous (and not so) Italian and Dutch artists, including works by Luca Cambiaso, Veronese, Filippo Lippi, Andrea Semino, Jan Provost, Jos van Cleve, and Antonio Canova's The Penitent Magdalene. But the painting by Caravaggio "Behold the Man" was taken to some exhibition in the United States.

In other halls of the museum, collections of coins and ceramics are displayed, there are several letters of Columbus and many other interesting exhibits.

The path to the municipality building runs along the roof of the Palazzo Bianco, from where you can see in all its glory Palazzo Rosso(from the street it looks simple). In its halls you can also admire the outstanding works of Italian painters.

But back to the municipality.

Here we are entering the very last hall of the museum. This is where the magnificent creation of the then unknown violin maker is kept. Bartolomeo Giuseppe Guarneri, del Gesu... The famous " Canon". Presumably made in 1743.

The violin was donated to Paganini in 1802 by a certain Parisian merchant, whose name has not survived in history. The seventeen-year-old Paganini was simply shocked by the sound of this violin. The Canon accompanied Paganini all his life and was the master's favorite instrument, despite the fact that he possessed a fairly large collection of Amati and Stradivari violins. Guarneri Paganini bequeathed his wonderful violin to his native Genoa, and after his death, the violin was named “Paganini's Widow”.

Now, once a year, the violin is carefully removed from the museum window to be played by a worthy musician. Most often, this honor is awarded to the laureates of the Paganini Competition.

By the way, it is reliably known that Antonio Stradivari himself envied the work of del Gesu. He noted that his own violins surpass the instruments of Giuseppe Guarneri in softness and brilliance of sound, but at the same time they are clearly inferior to them in sound power. Like this.

Also in the last room there is another instrument of Paganini - a violin by Jean-Baptiste Villiume, donated to the master in 1834 by Camillo Sivori. There are other items related to the life of the great Nicolo Paganini. Very impressive.

And in my opinion Paganini's violins clearly deserve more attention and respect than even a few Genoa aquariums !

In addition, one of the major cultural sites of Genoa is the opera house - Teatro carlo felice... Its construction was started in 1824. Located near the fountain in Ferrari Square. After the bombing during the Second World War, it was almost completely destroyed, later rebuilt. On a small square in front of the theater, there is a monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi, the hero of Italy. But the tower (Torre) near the Opera House was added quite recently, in 1990.

Genoa is also home to one of the largest universities in Italy.

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Travelers who find themselves in Genoa notice the small number of tourists. The thing is that this unusual city is quite contradictory and ambiguous. Some fall in love with him from the first photo they see. Others reject the idea of ​​going to Genoa after learning of an overabundance of poor neighborhoods in the city.

In my opinion, the main city of Liguria has everything you need to surprise and enchant its guests. Once in Genoa, the first step is to take a tourist map with a description of the monuments and routes. This can be done at information points at the train station or at the airport. Further it is worth bouncing around the two most beautiful streets of the city.

Via di Pre- a street that reflects the Medieval spirit of Genoa. It is necessary to squeeze along it along narrow lanes, throwing your head back to inspect the bridges between the roofs. Local residents visit each other through these unusual aerial structures. This is how the surrounding mountains affect the city, forcing it to grow upwards, and not in breadth.

Another street that allows you to get to the Old Center - Via Balb i. She looks more luxurious than the previous one. It is on it that one of the most beautiful buildings in the city is located - the royal palace. Palazzo reale... Local residents managed to keep the interior of the palace intact. A visit to the Throne Room, the Mirror and the Ballroom will remain in memory for a long time. The patio, paved with sea pebbles, is worth a look. For viewing beautiful frescoes, chic paintings and sculptures, you will need to pay 4 euros for an adult and 2 euros for a teenager (18-25 years old). The palace is closed on Mondays. You can get to it on foot from the train station or by metro to Doki station.

You can look at the city from above from the Bigo observation deck in the old dock (Via Al Porto Antico). Taking an elevator to a height of 40 meters above the sea, you can see colorful houses, ships in the sea and smell the port. Another panoramic platform Belvedere Luigi Montaldo will be able to impress not only with views of Genoa, but also with an old elevator with huge windows. Tourists can admire the city at a glance and a beautiful sunset by going up from Piazza Portello to Corso Magenta on the Santa Anna funicular. A cable car ticket costs 0.7 euros and is sold at any tobacco or newsstand in the city.

You can get acquainted with the history of Genoa by visiting Garibaldi street... The gallery of Palazzo Bianco or the gallery of Palazzo Rosso contains illustrations of the life of the city's wealthy families in the seventeenth century. Previously, the galleries were palaces, and today they exhibit canvases by talented artists (Veronese, Caravaggio and Durer). Walking along the Garibaldi must be completed before dark. Not many tourists like the fact that the street is poorly lit in the evening and there is a red light district nearby.

All guests of Genoa must see the eternal symbol of the city - Lantern lighthouse... The second tallest brick lighthouse in the world is located in the old harbor. Next to it is the Lantern Museum, the exhibits of which acquaint tourists with the history of the city and the port. In order to admire the views from the lighthouse, you need to overcome 375 degrees and pay 2 euros.

Tourists falling in love with Genoa should visit Piazza Ferrari... On the square, you can throw a coin into a large and beautiful fountain (to return to the city again), look at the monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi, visit the Doge's Palace and the Church of Jesus.

Young tourists should definitely visit Aquarium... The 48 pools are home to fish and other sea creatures. Various exhibitions and shows are sure to please children. In addition, visitors can admire the dolphins through the glass wall of the underwater tunnel in the cetacean pavilion. On the second level of the pavilion, there is a beautiful view of the mammals from above. A ticket for an adult costs 24 euros, for children from 4 to 12 years old, a ticket costs 15 euros. You can get to the aquarium by metro to St. George station.

The tourist area of ​​the city is Via di Campa and Via S. Luca. Most of the boutiques, souvenir shops and cafes are located along these long streets. From Friday to Sunday open for tourists swap meet by the Piazza Mateotti. From morning until 17:00, sellers of motley tents offer all sorts of things and antiques.

There are many more interesting places in the city. In order to see them all, you need to buy a ticket and come to Genoa.

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Any city in Italy is beautiful in its own way and Genoa is no exception. Here, the architecture of our time looks great against the background of medieval buildings, and the harmonious combination of civilization and untouched nature along the entire coast, amazes everyone without exception.

Ferrari Square (Piazza De Ferrari).

This square is considered by the locals to be the main attraction and, of course, the most beautiful not only in Genoa, but in all of Italy. The vast majority of the city's historical buildings are concentrated here: the Doge's Palace, the Academy of Fine Arts (one of the oldest in the country), the Carlo Felice Theater, the Galliera Palace and the incomparable Palazzo della Borsa, a monument to the great Giuseppe Garibaldi.

Cathedral of San Lorenzo (Cattedrale di San Lorenzo)

This religious building, construction of which began in 1115, is considered the largest church in the city and is located at Piazza San Lorenzo, 16123 Genova. This temple is especially revered among believing Christians around the world, because of the relics of John the Baptist kept here. In the basement of the temple, a Museum of Treasures has been created, one of the exhibits of which is the Sacred Chalice, which, according to the Bible, was used by Jesus Christ during the famous Last Supper. The admission ticket for adults is 5.5 euros, and the child's ticket costs 4.5 euros.

Church of St. Stephen (Chiesa di Santo Stefano)

This temple is the oldest in Genoa, it was built in 972. It is located on the street via XX Settembre and, despite the age of the church, liturgies are still held here. It was in this church that a boy was baptized, whose name and surname are now known to the whole world - Christopher Columbus.

House of Columbus (Casa di Colombo)

Piazza Dante 4 is the address where the famous navigator and traveler was born, according to the citizens, although the exact address is not known for certain. But this does not stop the tens of thousands of tourists visiting this house on October 12, when World Columbus Day is celebrated.

National Gallery in the Spinola Palace (Galleria Nazionale)

This building was built in the 16th century and can be found at di Palazzo Spinola Genova - p.zza Pellicceria, 1. It houses a unique collection of Italian and Flemish Renaissance painters.

Palazzi dei Rolli.

This is a whole block of chic palaces, built in the 16th century, and now recognized as the world heritage of mankind. In those years, all the nobility who came, including the royals, stayed in peace, only in these palaces. They are located at Via Garibaldi, 9, Genova. At the moment, the most significant are the Palazzo Rosso, Palazzo Bianco and Palazzo Doria Turzi. They attract the bulk of tourists with their unsurpassed galleries with paintings by Dutch and Italian masters.

Staglieno cemetery (Monumental Cemetery of Staglieno)

The largest and, without any doubt, the most beautiful in all of Europe is the Genoese cemetery, located on a hill with an area of ​​more than one square meter. km. Over time, this churchyard turned into an open-air museum. A very large number of people come here to admire the sculptures that adorn its graves, as well as enjoy the beauty of highly artistic tombstones. Walking through the cemetery, you do not feel at all that this is a burial place.

Genoa Aquarium (Acquario di Genova)

The old port, Ponte Spinola - at this address you will find another landmark of the city - the second largest aquarium in Europe. This grandiose building is worthy for you to get to know it better. And if you are traveling with a child, then I guarantee that the child will be completely delighted with everything he has seen! And there is something to see there: penguins, giant stingrays, bloodthirsty piranhas, sharks, not to mention a large number of amphibians. A ticket for adults costs 19 euros, for children under 4 years old, admission is free, from 4 to 12 years old - 13 euros.

Corso Italia (Corso Italia).

This is the most beloved street of the locals with a length of more than 2.5 kilometers, connecting the quarters of Foche and Boccadasse. On this small site, there are many historical sites that are the pride of the townspeople. One of them is the Punta Vagno lighthouse or the Sant Antonio church. Among other things, you can also have a good time here, in any restaurant or bar.

Lighthouse (Torre della Lanterna).

This impressive building is the undoubted symbol of the city. The 77-meter lighthouse has been tacitly watching the take-offs (and there were quite a few of them) and subsequent falls of Genoa for more than 800 years.

Genoa is the largest northern port in Italy and the center of resort life on the Ligurian coast. Already from the X-XI centuries. The Republic of Genoa held in its hands the best sea routes of the Mediterranean, while squeezing out even the mighty Venice.

The famous Christopher Columbus, a navigator, explorer and discoverer of the American continent, was born in Genoa. You can see his house with your own eyes on one of the city streets. The incomparable Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi spent a lot of time in the capital of Liguria. Once upon a time, his operas made the local musical theater famous.

Genoa is a place where a good beach holiday can be combined with active excursions and long health walks in nature. You need to come to the Ligurian coast for a magnificent climate, ancient architecture and a leisurely passage of time.

The best hotels and hotels at affordable prices.

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What to see and where to go in Genoa?

The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.

The central square of Genoa, located on the border of the historic and business quarters. Many city attractions are located here - palaces, theater, monuments, administrative buildings. Piazza is often the venue for public demonstrations, concerts and other events. The square is named after Duke R. de Ferrari, a famous city patron of the arts.

For centuries, the busy Genoese harbor was moored by ships laden with spices, outlandish goods from distant lands and slaves. Over time, the port fell into disrepair, but local enthusiasts found use for it. According to the project of the architect R. Päno, for the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America, the old harbor was converted into an entertainment complex. A museum, a tropical garden, a swimming pool, and a panoramic elevator appeared on its territory.

One of the oldest lighthouses in the world, located in the port of Genoa. The tower is believed to have been built in the 12th century. Over the following years, the lighthouse increased in size, in the XIV century, a prison was organized inside. A building reconstructed in the 16th century has survived to this day. The maintenance of the lighthouse was paid from the tax paid by ships moored in the city port.

A picturesque area along the Corso Italia promenade. There are several good beaches on the territory of Baccadasse, which attracts increased attention of tourists. Cape Santa Chiara with a stylized medieval castle is also located here. In the past centuries, mostly fishermen settled in local houses. The area is distinguished by narrow stone streets, brightly colored facades and stunning views from the embankment.

A small resort town located near Genoa. Administratively, it is considered part of the urban agglomeration of Genoa. Nervi used to be an ordinary fishing village, now it is built up with villas and apartments for tourists, although fishermen still continue to go out to sea. The town has several interesting museums where you can learn a lot about the history and culture of Liguria.

A quarter built up with palaces of the Genoese nobility. More than half of the buildings after restoration were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. On the territory of Palazzo Tursi, Palazzo Bianco and Palazzo Rosso, you can see rich collections of antique furniture, priceless paintings, tapestries and sculptures. These palaces are located on Garibaldi Street - the central alley of the quarter. The street was named after the revered Italian revolutionary and hero.

The palace-museum, which is part of the Strada Nuova museum complex. The building was built in the 16th century by order of the influential Genoese Grimaldi family. Subsequently, the palazzo changed its owners several times. At the beginning of the 18th century, the new owners, the Brigondi family, carried out a thorough reconstruction. Since then, the palace has received the unofficial name "Palazzo Bianco" due to the white color prevailing in the interior. At the beginning of the 20th century, the building was transferred to the state.

The red palace, erected in the 17th century by the project of the architect P.A. Corradi. In 2006, the building was listed as a UNESCO Historical Heritage Site. The palazzo was privately owned until 1874, then it was donated to the city. Along with Palazzo Bianco and Palazzo Tursi, the palace is part of the museum complex on Via Garibaldi. Inside is an art collection that once belonged to the Brignole-Sale family, the former owners of the palazzo.

Former palace of the Doges - rulers of Genoa, which was built and completed in the period 1251-1539. Today, the building houses a museum. Also, some of the premises are used for cultural and social events. At the end of the 18th century, the palazzo was rebuilt taking into account the fashionable trends of the neoclassical style at that time. The last restoration was carried out in 1992 to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America.

A 12th century palace built by a close relative of the first Genoese doge. Interestingly, the wreckage of the Venetian embassy, ​​which was brought from Constantinople, was used as a building material. At a certain period, the palazzo began to be used as a prison. The most famous prisoner of this dungeon was the traveler Marco Polo. In the 15th century, the building housed a bank. Today, the palace houses the Genoese Port Authority.

The 17th century palace, preserved in its original form, despite several restorations. It was built between 1643 and 1650. for an influential Genoese family. Since 1824, the palazzo has been used as the residence of the royal family of Savoy. The new occupants have put a lot of effort into making the interiors look luxurious. They brought a lot of expensive furniture and art objects.

The mansion was built in the 17th century for A. Doria, the naval admiral and ruler of the city. At that time, the palace was the most luxurious building in Genoa. It hosted important guests, official delegations and foreign ambassadors. Over time, A. Doria was granted the princely title, so the residence became known as the "Princely Villa". The building is surrounded by a landscaped garden, which houses a large fountain from 1585.

The castle was built in the 19th century on the site of the old fortress walls of Genoa. Until 1932, it belonged to E.A. D'Albertis - sea captain and founder of yachting in Italy. The building was erected in the neo-Gothic style according to the project of A. D'Andrade. In 2004, Genoa was selected as the European Capital of Culture. In connection with this event, the Museum of World Cultures was opened on the territory of the castle, where exhibits obtained during expeditions to Africa, Australia and Oceania, America are collected.

The main cathedral of Genoa, erected in the XII century on the site of the old church of the V-VI centuries. Even earlier, at the dawn of our era, there was an ancient Roman temple and an early Christian cemetery, as evidenced by objects found during excavations. The construction of the cathedral was fully completed by the 17th century, during which time it underwent several extensions and reconstructions. There is a Treasure Museum near the cathedral, which houses jewelry made in the period from the 9th century.

One of the oldest temples in Genoa, which was built in the 9th-10th centuries. In the XIV-XV centuries. a monastery was added to the church. By the 20th century, the monastery fell into decay. Now it houses a museum. Santa Maria di Castello is a working church. Over the centuries, it has been rebuilt and renovated. Therefore, in its appearance, you can catch the features of Baroque and Classicism, superimposed on the austere Romanesque facade.

A picturesque church built in a transitional style from Mannerism to Baroque. According to the original plan, the temple was erected in the late Gothic style, but at the beginning of the 17th century, under the leadership of the architect T. Carlone, the building was rebuilt. Famous masters worked on the decoration of the church in different periods: D. Bernardo, D. Casella, K. Barabino. This was made possible thanks to generous funding from the wealthy Lomellini family.

Jesuit temple located in one of the central city squares. The first church of the 6th century located on this site was named after Saint Ambrose - the patron saint of Milan. It lasted until 1552. After the building fell into the hands of the Jesuits, they decided to rebuild the church to their liking. Thanks to the brothers, valuable works of art and frescoes by D. Carlone appeared in the church.

The cemetery began its work in the middle of the 19th century. It quickly became the most popular in the city. The people who buried their relatives seem to have competed in the beauty of the headstones adorning graves and crypts. Now the necropolis can be considered as an open-air museum of sculpture. The philosopher F. Nietzsche, accompanied by the artist P. Klee, once liked to walk along the paths of the cemetery.

Genoa's main opera and ballet stage located in Piazza Ferrari. The theater building was erected in the first half of the 19th century. The opera Bianca and Fernando by V. Bellini was chosen as the premiere performance. The works of the great Giuseppe Verdi were often staged on the stage. The composer himself lived in Genoa every winter for 40 years. All this time he worked closely with the management of the theater.

Aquarium of Genoa is considered the second largest in Europe and the largest aquarium in Italy. Marine life is contained in 70 huge reservoirs with a total capacity of more than 6 million tons of water. The Oceanarium was built in 1992 for the start of the Genoa Expo, which was held in honor of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America. In 1998, the area of ​​the aquarium was expanded with another extension.

The museum was opened in 2004. The exposition tells about the rich history and traditions of navigation of the Genoese Republic, as well as the entire Mediterranean. The museum exhibits ship models from different historical eras. There are modern submarines, old boats of wealthy merchants, and warships. The museum has a library where navigational charts and ship documentation are kept.

Replica of a Spanish 17th century ship, which was created in 1985 specifically for the film "Pirates" by Roman Polanski. Externally, the ship is a real Spanish galleon, completely made of wood, but it has a powerful modern engine and a steel hull. After filming, the ship docked forever near the Maritime Museum and is now used only as a tourist attraction.

A popular tourist attraction located in the Old Port of Genoa. The elevator is stylized as a system of harbor cranes, with the help of which ships were loaded and unloaded. "Il Bigo" lifts passengers to a height of 40 meters above sea level, from where a panoramic view of the sea, the city, the harbor, the coastal cliffs and the vicinity of Genoa opens.

A massive 12th century gate located in the heart of the city. For many centuries they served as the main entrance to Genoa. The structure is made of gray stone in the form of two watch towers connected by an arched span. Tourists can climb to the observation deck of the gate completely free of charge and admire the city views from there. Porta Soprana is located in the historical part of Genoa.

The great navigator and discoverer Columbus was born on the territory of the Republic of Genoa. The house in which he was born still stands on one of the city streets. The building was badly damaged in the 17th century during the French attack, but the building was partially restored. During the excavations, it was found that the walls are supported by the old foundation of the 6th century.

Park area surrounding the town of Nervi and includes the surroundings and landscaped embankments. The main promenade of the park is a narrow strip between the rocks and the sea, which stretches for about 2 km. This is a great place for calm walks along the coast, for observing the sea elements and for relaxation. The park is very popular with tourists, so there can be many visitors here during the high season.

Large park located in the city of Genoa. In the 16th century, a system of fortifications stood in its place, but later there was no need for them, and the territories were given over to green spaces. The park appeared thanks to the activities of the Marquis D.C.Di Negro, who first organized a botanical school here and brought the first plants. On the territory of the garden is the Museum of Oriental Art. Chiussone.

The main promenade of Genoa, stretching for about 2.5 km. along the coast. The embankment acquired its modern architectural appearance in 1915. D. Carbone worked on the project. As a result of the reconstruction, the place became more comfortable - benches, new paths, gazebos appeared. Corso Italia has restaurants, bars, swimming pools, sports clubs and private beaches.

The main promenade of the Nevi Park, which stretches along the rocky coast. There are several places on the promenade where you can go down the stairs directly to the sea. Many tourists sunbathe and relax right on the coastal rocks. The embankment is dotted with sharp capes and rocky ledges overgrown with typical Mediterranean vegetation. This is a picturesque place perfectly suited for relaxation.

Montaldo is considered one of the most beautiful places in Genoa. From here, a stunning view of the city quarters opens up. In the 13th century, the Castelletto fortress stood on the site of the square, but it was demolished in the middle of the 19th century. Monatldo can be reached using a special elevator from 1910, which is a separate attraction in itself. Alternatively, you can use the Chirkonwallacione-a-Monte road.

With its cultural diversity and geographical location, Genoa inspires and provides an unforgettable experience for tourists from around the world. Its architectural ensemble is both the most ancient buildings that have preserved the history of the city, and modern buildings, which are not inferior in beauty and grandeur to their predecessors.

Italy: Genoa on the map in Russian

Seaport Genoa, the main city of the province of the same name and Liguria, is located in the north.

When and how did the city appear?

Genoa's beauty was influenced by many cultures.

Since ancient times, Genoa has been the center of Ligurgy, having been conquered by the Roman Empire in the 3rd century BC.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, in which Genoa was shopping center, it was captured and plundered by the Germanic tribes. Since the 10th century, Genoa has developed through trade with the largest states.

During the Crusades, Genoa provided its ships to the allies, for which it received trade privileges and representation in different cities.

During the conquests of Napoleon, the Ligurian Republic was founded on the site of the once great maritime power. In 1814, Genoa became part of Sardinia, and then - the main city of Liguria as part of Italy. Today it is the largest port.

How to get there?

The mountains Monte Zatta and Monte Penna, glacial lake Lago del Lame- here is an incomplete list of fascinating places near which you can take a break from the bustle of the city.

Port in Genoa one of the largest in terms of passenger traffic in Europe. About a million passengers visit it every year on cruise ships. Stretching along the coast for 20 km, covering an area of ​​about 1000 hectares on land and at sea, this port has 5 berths for cruises and 13 ferries. The high capacity of the Genoese port makes it the largest in Italy and provides this Mediterranean country with a high level of international maritime trade.

The city is also famous for its beaches... In terms of beauty and quality of service, at least five coastal recreation areas can be distinguished:

• Camogli;
• Sister Levante;
• Savona;
• Ligure;
• Alassio.

The beaches of Genoa are different in coverage, you can choose as sand and pebble... Water attractions, concerts and seaside cafes will satisfy the most discerning palate.

What else to do?

Inspection of all the sights can take several days, but it's worth it.

What to see in 1 day?

If you are limited in time or want to devote to the services of a tour guide no more than a day in its schedule, the city's tourist services are ready to provide a wide selection of general or highly targeted excursions for a reasonable price in a paradise of Europe. The main short excursions are:

1. Car excursion... Six hours of a comfortable car ride through the most famous places: Ferrari Square with its famous fountain, Columbus's house, caravels, the old town, the Sopranos gate;

The tour also includes stops at observation decks and lunch at the best cafes in the city.

2. Pilgrimage to holy places with a visit to local relics. In just a few hours, a modern pilgrim will be able to visit local shrines recognized by the entire Christian world: the relics of John the Baptist and St. Lawrence, the Image of Christ not made by hands and many other relics brought here by crusaders from all over the east;
3. Grand tour genova... This is the most ambitious trip around the city, including exclusive visits to places inaccessible to the layman. Access to places that cannot be visited on foot, ending with a cup of coffee in Giuseppe Verdi's favorite coffee shop - what could be better?

Vacation with children

Arriving on vacation, you can easily find an activity that will appeal to both an adult and a child. For example, in Genoa there is "Playground"- an open area for all kinds of physical and technical experiments, which will undoubtedly captivate the child and will be absolutely safe for him. Children from 3 years old are allowed to enter here.

Good to visit Nervi park- fresh air and impressive nature will benefit the child, and in addition, the park has a large playground with many attractions and other entertainments. And a natural history museum can captivate a child with real skeletons of prehistoric animals and various archaeological artifacts.

Famous Genoese aquarium- a place where the child will definitely not get bored. This aquarium is the largest in all of Europe and has an unusual design. It features a variety of marine life - from amphibians to sharks. In addition, in the center there is a dolphinarium with many unforgettable programs, as well as a pavilion with penguins. It is a pleasure to look at the inhabitants of the deep sea up close.

Shopping

For shoppers, Genoa has a rich selection of shops ranging from flea markets to world-renowned boutiques.

You can start shopping with streets of 20 September, which is located near Piazzo Ferrari in the center: there are many mass market boutiques, two shopping centers, as well as cozy antique shops and bookstores.

There are many expensive boutiques, souvenir shops and ateliers along the street of Rome.

Every month at the Doge's Palace is held fair with locally produced goods. Lovers of exotic and local flavor will love the oriental and flea markets.

Not far from Genoa there is largest in Europe, in which there are about two hundred boutiques with year-round discounts from 40 to 90%.

The largest port and one of the largest ports in the Mediterranean.

Weather in Genoa:

History of Genoa:

The Phoenicians were the first to draw attention to the convenient sea bay, then the city passed under the rule of the Roman Empire. After the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, Genoa was seized in turn by the Ostrogoths, Byzantines and Franks.

Two main stations:

• Brignole- regional routes.
• Principe- regional and long-distance routes (for example, trains from stop only here).

By bus:

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Genoa is a large port, so ships come here from many cities in the Mediterranean:
, Valletta (Malta), Bastia (Corsica), Olbia and Porto Torret (Sardinia), Palermo (Sicily), Tangier (Morocco), Tunisia (Tunisia).

• Companies: Moby, Tirrenia, Grandi Navi, CTN.

Find your way in Genoa:

The theory of Genoa stretches along the coast for about 30 km. The city center occupies a small space between two main train stations - Principe and Brignole, between which buses run. In the south-west direction from Brignole train station is the main street - via XX Settembre(via Venti-Settembre), which leads to the heart of the city - piazza ferrari(Piazza Ferrari).

Towards the west, towards the port and along the coastline to Principe train station in a maze of narrow alleys ( caruggi), the oldest quarters stretch and most of the monuments are located.

By Old town of Genoa it is more convenient to travel on foot, since traffic in the center is prohibited.

IAT Tourist Office

• Piazza giacomo matteotti
• 0108 68 74 52
• daily 09.00–20.00

IAT Tourist Office

• Principe Station
• Mon – Sat 09.30–13.00, 15.30–18.00

Attractions in Genoa:

All the sights of Genoa can be bypassed with one route, about half a day is enough, if you do not disappear for a long time in the Aquarium and museums.

1. Loggia Mercanti

Piazza Banchi (Piazza Banchi) has long been the trade and political center of Genoa. The most interesting building preserved on the square is the Loggia dei Mercanti (Mercanti loggia, 16th century). In the 19th century, the first commodity exchange in Italy was opened here. The building was renovated after the Second World War, and now it hosts exhibitions and cultural events.

2. Cathedral of San Lorenzo

Via San Luca(via San Luca) and via San Lorenzo(via San Lorenzo) lead from piazza Banchi to the main city cathedral of San Lorenzo ( Cattedrale di san lorenzo, XII century). The French craftsmen who built the cathedral took the famous Gothic cathedrals in Chartres and Rouen as a model. The façade is faced with black and white marble, over the central entrance to the church there are balconies depicting the martyrdom of St. Lawrence.

The museum of the cathedral contains many relics, including the Holy Chalice (Sacro Catino), brought to Genoa by the Christ-bearers in the XII century and for a long time revered as the Holy Grail.

• San Lorenzo
• 09.00–12.00, 15.00–18.00, Sun 15.00–18.00

3. Ducal Palace

Via San Lorenzo goes to piazza Matteotti(Piazza Matteotti), to which the main façade of the Ducal Palace (Palazzo Ducale) faces. The palace was built in 1275, at the time of the greatest prosperity of the Genoese Republic. After the restoration, completed in 1992, the Palace of Culture (Palazzo della Cultura) was opened here. Today, the halls and courtyards of the palazzo host some of the largest exhibitions in the city.

• Ducal palace
• Tue – Sun 09.00–21.00

4. Porta Soprana

From the Ducal Palace on the cozy medieval via Porta Soprana (street Porta Soprana) you can go to the gate of Porta Soprana. The two-towered gates are the remains of the 12th century fortress wall, which once served as a reliable protection for the inhabitants of Genoa.

5. Galleria di Sant'Andrea

On the left, in the direction of movement, surrounded by trees, the columns of the gallery of Sant'Andrea (Galleria di Sant'Andrea, XII century) whiten.

6. House of Columbus

Immediately behind the gallery is an inconspicuous house entwined with ivy - it is believed that Christopher Columbus was born here in 1451. Facade house of Columbus goes to piazza Dante(Piazza Dante), a modern square, from which traffic arteries spread out in all directions.

7. Monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi

Columbus House is just a few minutes' walk from via Dante(via Dante) to piazza ferrari(Piazza Ferrari), in the center of which there is a large fountain (1936). There is also a bronze equestrian monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi (Augusto Rivalta, 1879).

8. Teatro Carlo Felice

Nearby is the main city theater Carlo Felice (Teatro Carlo Felice, Carlo Barabino, 1828). During the Second World War, the theater was almost completely destroyed by the bombing of the Allied troops, but then it was rebuilt.

Vintage via Garibaldi, despite its current name, was laid back in the 16th century and is included in the World Heritage List UNESCO.

9. Palazzo Rosso

Of the many palaces on the street, Palazzo Rosso deserves special attention. Here is an art gallery, where canvases by Guido Reni, Guercino and other Italian masters are exhibited.

• Palazzo Rosso
• Via Garibaldi, 18

10. Palazzo Bianco

The Palazzo Bianco (White Palace) contains a collection of Genoese, Flemish, French and Spanish paintings.

• Palazzo Bianco
• Via Garibaldi, 11
• Tue – Fri 09.00–19.00, Sat – Sun 10.00–19.00, Mon closed, children admitted. St.

11. Royal Palace

The Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale) is located on via Balbi. The street has such a name for a reason: at the beginning of the 17th century, it was the representatives of the rich Balbi family who built a mansion here, which in 1823, after repeated reconstructions, became the residence of the Savoian kings. Inside, the interiors and furniture of the 17th century, bar sculpture and canvases by Van Dyck, Luca Giordano and Tintoretto have been preserved.

The sights of Italian Genoa (Genova) attract tourists with their picturesque beauty and unique architecture. Labyrinths of narrow streets, fortress walls, graceful palaces, churches will not leave indifferent even many tourists.

Cristoforo Colombo was born here. Therefore, any Genoese will point to the house where the great traveler grew up. There is also a palace where Marco Polo languished in prison, and in the Old Port you can see one of the largest aquariums in the world and a very old lighthouse.

The main street of the city is Piazza De Ferrari. It got its name thanks to Duke Raffaele De Ferrari. This is how the Genoese immortalized the famous diplomat, financier and benefactor.

In earlier times, the area was smaller, and adjacent to the monastery and the temple of St. Domenic. When the city was captured by Napoleon, barracks and warehouses were equipped in the monastery complex. That is why, by the beginning of the nineteenth century, the monastery and church had become so dilapidated that the authorities decided to dismantle the temple and reconstruct the square.

By 1828, the area was transformed. The square acquired a square shape, expanded significantly, and new buildings appeared. In front of the opera house in 1879, a bronze monument was erected depicting Giuseppe Garibaldi Monument on horseback.

In 1936, a large round fountain, Fontana di Piaggio, was installed on the Piazza De Ferrari. It was named after the family that sponsored the construction. The former building of the Stock Exchange is located behind the fountain. A few years ago, a Ferrari metro station was opened on the square.

The houses of Piazza De Ferrari are also interesting. Previously, it housed the oldest stock exchange in Italy (closed in 1998), there are also sights such as the Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale), Teatro Carlo Felice and other interesting houses.

• We advise you to read:

Teatro Carlo Felice

Teatro Carlo Felice is the main theater of Genova, built on the site of the former monastery complex and the temple of San Domenico. The opening of the sight took place in 1828. The name of the opera house immortalized the ruler of Genoa, Duke Carlo Felice di Savoia. For forty winters, Giuseppe Verdi staged performances here.

The Second World War severely destroyed the opera, and the Genoese could not restore the theater for a long time. Refurbishment work began in 1987 on a project by Aldo Rossi and was completed four years later. The facade and some interior details have been preserved.

Now Teatro Carlo Felice is considered one of the most spacious in Europe: it is designed for two thousand spectators.

Doge's palace

The Ducal Palace (Palazzo Ducale), which is known as the Doge's Palace, is the oldest building in the square. The main façade is in Piazza Matteotti, while the side wall overlooks Piazza Ferrari. They lived in the house of the Doges until the end of the eighteenth century, when Bonaparte abolished this position.

Built at the beginning of the thirteenth century, during the heyday of Genoa, commissioned by the captains of the ships Oberto Spinola and Corrado Doria. They purchased several houses, ordered to demolish and erect a new building in their place. Then a palace with a tower located next to the building was added to it. In 1339, the first doge of Genoa, Simon Boccanegra, settled in the palace.

Since then, Palazzo Ducale has been rebuilt many times, so it combines styles from different eras. Consists of several buildings, inside which there is a huge number of galleries, graceful courtyards, walkways, towers. Attention is drawn to marble columns, arched vaults, a monumental staircase. There is a Great and Small Council Hall, a chapel, a prison, where the violinist Niccolò Paganini languished for some time.

Now the Ducal Palace is a museum. Exhibitions, cultural events are constantly held here, and meetings are organized at the highest level.

The Palace of the Ligurian Academy of Fine Arts (Accademia Ligustica di Belle Arti) is located to the right of Teatro Carlo Felice, at number five. Designed by Carlo Barabino in 1825.

At the bottom of the academy, there is a museum displaying the works of Donatode Bardi, Orazio De Ferrari, Serafino De Tivoli and other masters. Paintings, ceramics, marble and bronze sculptures, and other exhibits are exhibited here.

Port

The port of Genoa is located between northern Italy and southern Europe. That is why it is very convenient for sailors, businessmen, politicians.

The port stretches along the coast for twenty-two kilometers, has four entrances: east, west, Multedo and Voltri. There are many terminals here, each of which is designed to receive ships of a certain type. There are berths in the port for both commodity and passenger ships, as well as for private ships.

The old port is of interest to tourists. There is a thousand-year-old lighthouse, a huge city aquarium, the Maritime Museum, and the Biosphere Botanical Garden. After the filming of Roman Polanski's film "Pirates", a three-masted frigate was left here, attracting the attention of both children and adults. The Maritime Museum of the Mediterranean Sea is also interesting, the exhibits of which tell about the entire history of navigation, from rowing boats to modern ships.

And you can see all this if you rise above the port on the Bigo lift. Its design is designed so that it rotates three hundred and sixty degrees.

Piazza Caricamento

Piazza Caricamento is considered the center of the Old Port. It is located fifteen minutes walk from Ferrari Square.

The most famous palace of the square is the Palazzo San Giorgio. The house was built in the XIII century. for the uncle of the first Doge of Genoa, Captain Guglielmo Boccanegra. When the captain was sent into exile, the house became a prison, the most famous prisoner of which was Marco Polo: he was captured here when he fought with the Genoese. Here, with his words, the Italian writer Rusticiano wrote stories about the adventures of the traveler, who was sitting with him in prison.

Lighthouse La Lanterna

The Lanterna lighthouse is located fifteen minutes walk from the Dinegro metro station. It is the symbol of the city and the highest lighthouse in the Mediterranean: La Lanterna is 77 m high, with 375 steps leading up. It is also very old: the history of the lighthouse began in 1128.

Lanterna was built on the hill of San Benigno, far outside the city limits, and it illuminated the way for ships that were coming from France. To keep the fire going, the keepers used firewood, mostly dry juniper. Money for the maintenance of the lighthouse and the maintenance of its work was allocated by the Genoese from the tax that they took from the ships for mooring in the port of the city. Two centuries later, the Genoese installed an olive oil lamp on the tower. Thanks to this, the ships saw the light of the lighthouse better.

The lighthouse not only illuminated the road, but also served as a defensive fortification in the struggle between the clans. Therefore, he was often under siege. That is why, in 1326, the inhabitants of Genoa dug a protective trench around the tower to reduce the likelihood of any of the warring parties entering the lighthouse.

At the beginning of the fifteenth century, Lanterna was rebuilt, after which the lighthouse also became a prison. Here they held hostage to the Cypriot king Jean II de Lusignan (fr. Jean II de Lusignan) with his wife, who unsuccessfully tried to free Cyprus from the Genoese trade dependence.

During the war with the French, the lighthouse was badly damaged, but already in 1543 the Genoese restored the tower. In the seventeenth century, the lighthouse was included in the line of a gradually expanding city. In the eighteenth, rotating Fresnel lenses were installed on it. At the beginning of the twentieth century, electricity was brought here.

The last major reconstruction was done after the end of the Second World War, during which the lighthouse was badly damaged. Now there is a museum next to the tower, where you can get acquainted with the history of the city, the port, see items and archives related to sea navigation. Among the exhibits are Fenchel lenses, having studied which, one can understand the scheme of the lighthouse's work.

Galata Maritime Museum

The Galata Maritime Museum (Galata Museo del Mare) is located in the Old Port. The exact address: Calata De Mari, 1. The exhibition center covers an area of ​​10 thousand m2, and therefore it is one of the largest museums in the Mediterranean.

Among the exhibits are reconstructions of medieval shipyards, ship models, navigational charts, instruments. There are globes, paintings, ancient weapons, and even monsters from medieval books. The tour is accompanied by visual and sound effects that convey the atmosphere of the place. Much attention is paid to Christopher Columbus, a native of these lands.

There is a submarine near the building, which can be accessed for a fee. There is also a brigantine from the seventeenth century, which allows you to understand the structure of the ships of those times.

For numerous visitors, there is a terrace at the top of the museum, which offers views of the city, port and the Gulf of Genoa.

Aquarium

The largest aquarium in Italy is located in Genoa. It is called Acquario di Genova and occupies an area of ​​3100 m2, while inside the building almost 10 thousand m2 are available for visiting. The attraction is located in the Old Port, on the Ponte Spinola pier. It was built in 1992 in honor of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus.

The building was designed in the form of a ship ready for launch. A few years later, it was expanded by attaching a 100-meter ship, which is connected to the main building by means of a bridge.

Inside the aquarium, there are seventy aquariums and pools where sea and river inhabitants (sharks, dolphins, octopuses, turtles, jellyfish) live. In addition to them, amphibians and reptiles live in the Aquarium.

When visiting Acquario di Genova you need to know that you can take pictures inside, but only without a flash. Otherwise, you can harm the sea inhabitants.

Biosphere

Botanical garden Biosphere (La Biosfera) is located near the Aquarium.

It is a huge glass sphere with an imitation of a tropical forest inside. Here not only plants grow, but also birds, iguanas, butterflies, parrots live. Piranhas live in the brook.

The tour takes a maximum of ten minutes. This is enough time to go around the garden along the path.

Churches

There are many churches in Genoa, and each of them is a masterpiece: the projects of the buildings were developed by the best architects, and designed by eminent masters. Therefore, paintings, sculptures, frescoes of Genoese temples amaze the imagination.

The Chiesa del Gesù e dei Santi Ambrogio e Andrea can be found in Piazza Matteotti. One of the buildings of the temple overlooks the Piazza De Ferrari.

The beginning of construction dates back to the sixth century: it was then that a temple was erected here by the Milan bishop, who fled during the persecution to Genoa. The church passed to the Jesuits in the middle of the sixteenth century. They remodeled the temple and decorated it with paintings by Rubens, Giovanni Merano, Giovanni Carlone and other masters of the 16th-17th centuries.

The façade of the temple had to be rebuilt again at the end of the nineteenth century, after the passage between it and the Doge's Palace had been destroyed. When developing a new project, the craftsmen used Rubens' sketches. After the completion of the work, the sculptures of Andrei and Ambrose were installed on the facade.

The Temple of San Lorenzo (Cattedrale di San Lorenzo) was erected on Piazza San Lorenzo, one hundred and fifty meters from Piazza De Ferrari. The temple is named in honor of the martyr St. Lorenzo, who died by death, at the place of whose burial a chapel was first erected, and at the beginning of the twelfth century they began to build a cathedral.

Although the Pope consecrated the basilica as early as 1118, construction lasted three centuries, which is why the building, conceived in the Romanesque style, received other features. The facade of the church is an example of French Gothic. It has three entrances, faced with two-tone marble, which symbolized the nobility and emphasized the nobility.

Upstairs there are two bell towers:

1. The right one, sixty meters high, was completed in 1522 and decorated in the Renaissance style. There are seven bells installed here;
2. The left bell tower was never completed: a loggia appeared instead.

Inside the cathedral there are columns, paintings, frescoes, statues of famous masters. The church has a chapel of St. John the Baptist (Giovanni Battista), decorated with statues of masters of the XV-XVI centuries. The relics of the saint are kept here.

In the right nave, a bomb is seen that pierced the roof of the temple during the Second World War. The fact that the projectile did not explode testifies to God's Power.

In the basement of the temple there is a treasury-museum, which was founded in the middle of the last century. Various shrines can be seen here. Among them is a dish on which Salome was offered the severed head of John the Baptist in gratitude for the dance. There is also a cup from which, according to legend, Jesus drank at the Last Supper (the relic was brought here in the tenth century).

Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato is located on Piazza della Nunziata. Previously, there was a monastery with a small church, which was built by the Umiliates in 1228. Three centuries later, the monastery complex passed to the Franciscans, who erected a new church in its place.

The construction of the temple began in 1520. The building was conceived in the Gothic style, which distinguished it from other buildings of the Renaissance. But after the walls were erected, the construction was stopped: the temple passed to the Franciscans from another order. At that time, at the Tridenst Cathedral, the provisions on church architecture were adopted, and it turned out that the built basilica did not correspond to them. Therefore, the monks were obliged to rebuild it in style.

The order did not have such money, so the brothers turned to the Lomellini family, the richest family in Genoa, for help. Lomellini was given money on the condition that their family chapel would be located here.

At the end of the construction, the basilica was completely transformed: the project turned out to be so gorgeous that it is considered one of the most significant creations of the Baroque. The brothers Carlone, Andrea Ansaldo, Domenico Casella worked on the decoration of the temple.

Although the basilica was seriously damaged during the Second World War, the Genoese quickly restored the church - and now it looks no less magnificent than in previous years.

Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta is the only temple in Genoa designed as a cross inscribed in a square. The basilica can be found on the Carignano hill on Via Alghero. Along the edges of the temple there are two bell towers with five bells. The facade is decorated with sculptures of the seventeenth century: the Assumption of the Virgin is depicted above the portal, Peter and Paul are on the sides.

The construction of the Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady began in 1552 and was completed half a century later. A hundred years later, it was allowed to hold a bishop's service here, which is why a number of changes had to be made to the basilica. The work dragged on for two centuries: from the inside, the temple was decorated with stucco, gilding, paintings, sculptors of eminent masters.

Since the temple was erected in the center of the city, a lot of religious activities take place here. Important memorial events are often held in the sacristy. So, in the seventies and nineties of the last century, they mourned the victims of terrorism, and also buried Fabrizio De André, the famous Italian singer.

The Chiesa di Santa Maria di Castello can be found on Via di Santa Maria di Castello 15. A church was built on a hill instead of a destroyed Roman fortress in AD 900. The basilica was rebuilt in the twelfth century. When three centuries later it became the property of the Dominicans, a monastery appeared near the temple.

And if from the outside the church of Santa Maria di Castello looks modest, beauty is hidden inside. Here are stunning sculptures, frescoes, paintings, relief images, paintings by great masters. Among them are Francesco Maria Schiaffino, Francesco Boccaccino, Lorenzo Fasolo.

You can also see majolica (this is the name for a type of painted ceramics, which is made from fired clay). On the upper tier is a marble ark attributed to Domenico Gagini.

The most important relic of the Church of Santa Maria di Castello is the sculpture of Christ, the so-called. Cristo Moro brought here from Palestine. It was made of dark wood, the cross was replaced with the Tree of Life. Recently, the statue was restored and it acquired its original appearance. In the old days, it was hidden under a large number of layers: first, the statue was painted, then silvered, and other changes were made. A copy of what happened can be seen in the adjacent chapel.

Museums

For tourists, a special tourist card has been developed, which allows you to significantly save on visiting museums in Genoa. It is called Card Musei di Genova and is valid for twenty-four or forty-eight hours. The card gives the opportunity to enter many museums of the city free of charge or with benefits from ten to forty percent.

Exactly which sights can be visited are indicated in the brochure that is attached to the map. At the same time, you should be aware that the card allows you to visit each exhibition center only once. The time and date of activation is not taken into account from the moment of purchase, but from the time of visiting the museum.

Thanks to the card, it will be cheaper to purchase tickets to the theater, a bus tour of the city, and a rest in a cafe. E If a tourist buys a combo card, it will provide him with free travel on public transport. The difference is small: the cost of a simple card for one day is twelve euros, and a combined one is one and a half euros more. The price of Card Musei di Genova is sixteen euros, the combined price is twenty.

• Official site: www.visitgenoa.it/it/card

The Royal Palace Museum is located at Via Balbi, 10... This house conveys the spirit of the family that lived there so well that it seems as if it is still inhabited.

The Royal Palace was built in the seventeenth century for the Balbi family. Then it came into the possession of the influential Durazzo family, nine of which were the Doges of the Republic of Genoa. In 1824 the palace became the residence of the kings of Savoy. Thanks to this, the house became more respectable: the interior was changed, expensive furniture appeared. A hundred years later, the King of Italy, Victor Emanuele III (Vittorio Emanuele III) handed over the Royal Palace to the state.

The Royal Palace in Genoa was badly damaged by bombing during the Second World War. But the Italians quickly restored it, and therefore it is open to everyone.

A visitor to the museum can enter the Throne, Ballroom, Hall of Mirrors. The rooms where the kings lived, various sculptures, graceful chandeliers, luxurious furniture of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries - all this gives an indescribable look to the palace.

One of the galleries houses canvases by famous artists. Among them are the creations of the Genoese masters Luca Giordano, Antoon van Dyck, Ferdinand Voet.

In the hanging garden of the Royal Palace, exotic flowers and plants grow, pebble paths are laid on which animals are laid out of pebbles. The royal terrace offers a magnificent view of Genoa and the bay.

Galleria Nazionale di Palazzo Spinola is located on Piazza di Pellicceria 1. It was arranged in a palace, which at the end of the 16th century. built by the Grimaldi family. The palace was owned by various aristocratic families until the Spinola brothers donated the house to the city in order to open a museum in it.

This was done in 1958 by equipping the National Gallery: Renaissance works of art look great with the architecture of the palace. That is why the attraction is considered one of the most beautiful museums in Genoa, since the halls are furnished in the style of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, furniture and other interior items have been preserved. Among others, the Mirror Gallery attracts attention.

Visitors can see paintings by Rubens, Antoon van Dyck, Il Grechetto and other great masters. The collections of ceramics and majolica are interesting. There is a hall in the palace dedicated to fashion: here are presented old velvet, corduroy, printed fabrics. Samples of lace, suits, dresses attract attention.

The Museum of World Culture (Museo delle Culturo del Mondo) is located in the castle-fortress Castello d'Albertis on Corso Dogali street. It was erected by Captain Enrico Alberto d'Albertis at the end of the nineteenth century on the site of the destroyed city walls. Therefore, here you can see the remains of the bastion and other structures of those times. And since the palace is on a hill, visitors have a magnificent view of the city center.

After the death of the captain, the castle was handed over to the city along with ethnographic, marine, archaeological material that he collected during his travels.

There are many books, photographs, musical instruments, boats, costumes here. Interesting crafts from ostrich eggs, which d'Albertis brought from Australia, as well as jewelry, ornaments, toys, furniture of the ancient Aztecs and Mayans. The museum of ethnic music is located in the same house.

Archaeological Museum of Liguria

The Archaeological Museum of Liguria (Museo di Archeologia Ligure) is located in the Villa Durazzo Pallavicini at Via Pallavicini. The villa was built in the middle of the nineteenth century by the architect Michele Canzio, who worked on the scenery for the Carlo Felice Theater.

It houses exhibits from prehistoric times to the period of the Roman Empire, which were found in the lands of Liguria. The Egyptian collection and the Roman collection of marble products are also interesting.

The villa is surrounded by a park. This is the botanical garden of the Marquise of Durazzo, where orchids, camellias, palms, bananas and ferns grow. There is a site dedicated to aquatic plants. An interesting greenhouse, the shape of which resembles a train. There are many carnivorous plants growing here.

The Museum of Oriental Art (Museo d'Arte Orientale Edoardo Chiossone) is located at Piazzale Mazzini, 4. It houses fifteen thousand exhibits collected by Edoardo Chiossone (Edoardo Chiossone). He lived and died in Japan, bequeathed to send the exhibits he collected home.
At first, the collection was housed in the Ligustica di Belle Arti academy: the exhibition opened in 1905.

Forty years later, the authorities decided to build a special building for the oriental exhibits. So in 1971, Villa di Negro (Villetta Di Negro) appeared - an avant-garde building in the middle of an existing park. On the ground floor of the building, a rectangular hall was made, and galleries, connected by flights of stairs, stretch along the walls. A rooftop terrace was installed.

Since then, the collection has been replenished many times, and therefore it is one of the largest collections in Europe. Here you can see Japanese Buddhist sculptures, bronze bells, mirrors, artifacts created before our era. Weapons, armor, metal sculptures are interesting.

The Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Giocomo Doria is located in via Brigata Liguria... The museum was founded in 1867 thanks to the representative of one of the most revered dynasties in Genoa, Giacomo Doria. During numerous expeditions, he collected a huge number of insects and other representatives of the animal world and presented them to the city. At the same time, Genoa received a paleontological and geological collection as a gift.

As a result, the city decided to found a museum, which currently has four million exhibits collected from all over the world. The first director was Giacomo Doria.

Here you can see various fossils, stuffed mammals, birds, snakes. The huge skeleton of a mammoth and the remains of other animals that have not survived to this day are striking. The collection of insects here is huge, there are also specimens of interesting plants.

Houses and palaces

Each house and palace in the historical part of Genoa can tell its own amazing story. Some are still inhabited by people, while others are equipped with museums. Against their background, the house where Christopher Columbus once lived, the princely villa, as well as the Rollie palaces stand out.

Every tourist visiting Genoa must see the Casa di Colombo, which is located on Piazza Dante 4. Although it is not known exactly where the great navigator was born, the Genoese believe that Christopher Columbus lived here until 1470 (born in 1451).

The house itself is not particularly impressive and looks a little gloomy. The attraction is a two-story building entwined with ivy. They are allowed inside only by special agreement or on October 12, the day of the celebration of World Columbus Day.

In the old days, the Columbus House was three-story. There were three rooms on each tier. On the first floor, Christopher's father set up a workshop: he was in charge of the weaving workshop. The remaining floors were at the disposal of the family.

In the seventeenth century, the building was almost completely destroyed when the French shelled the city, but the Genoese restored the house. Inside the building, fragments of walls have survived from the beginning of construction, and in the basement, archaeologists have discovered the foundation of a building dating back to the sixth century.

Princely villa

Palazzo di Andrea Doria, also known as the Villa del Principe, can be found at piazza del Principe, 4. Previously, it was located outside the city walls, and only eventually ended up within the city.

The house was built by Andrea Doria, who was popular with the Genoese, and in 1528 he was chosen by the Doge. He also received the title of prince for his merits, which is why the house was nicknamed princely. The palace looked gorgeous, it was decorated with sculptures, frescoes, tapestries. The house was so luxurious that even Emperor Charles V stayed here. Now it houses a museum.

They built a house at the foot of a hill near the sea. You can get to the villa through a portal decorated with the coat of arms of the Doria family. Along its edges are figures symbolizing Abundance and Peace.

The main staircase is decorated with geometric patterns and grotesque paintings. On the walls of the rooms there are murals, stucco moldings, paintings. Old furniture and interior elements are everywhere. The gold gallery was used for audience. In it you can see gilded wooden sculptures, family portraits.

In front of the building, there is an Italian-style park. It can be accessed from the house through an arched gallery. In the middle of the park is a fountain with a sculpture of Neptune, which appeared here at the end of the sixteenth century. Previously, through the garden, you could go down to the sea, where there was a private pier of Andrea Doria. Now there is a motorway between the house and the sea, and the sea terminal is located nearby.

Rollie palaces

Rolli Palaces (Palazzi dei Rolli) is a quarter of palaces, which is the first project in the history of Europe, which was built according to a pre-approved plan. The houses are located on the street. Garibaldi (via Garibaldi) and its surroundings. Here, on a small plot, the aristocrats built more than 40 palaces. Since there was not enough space, the owners erected the houses not in width, but in height. In 1576, the Senate of the Republic ordered the owners of the palaces to receive foreign delegations in the palaces.

In 2006, the landmark was included in the UNESCO list.

The most famous houses of Garibaldi Street are considered to be the palaces with an art gallery:

1. Palazzo Rosso or Red Palace, located at via Garibaldi, 18. In addition to the paintings, the painted canvases are also noteworthy. On the roof of the building there is a platform with a view of the city;
2. Palazzo Rosso or White Palace, located at number eleven. Near the palace there is a hanging garden with a pond;
3. Palazzo Doria-Tursi, located at number nine. There are not only paintings, but also Paganini's personal belongings, including the famous Canon violin, ancient coins and ceramics.

Rollie Palaces include the Royal Palace. It is located, however, on the next street, at Via Balbi, 10, and is also a museum.

University of Genoa

The University of Genoa (Università degli Studi di Genova) was founded in 1481. Its main building is located in the palace at via Balbi, 5. It has about forty thousand students and two thousand research workers.

The building was built in 1640. Since then, its architecture and interior decor have changed little. The architecture of the building and its interior design are a combination of the attributes of modernity and baroque: computers, cabinets, shelves are perfectly combined with antique statues, frescoes, and stucco moldings.

The monumental cemetery of Staglieno (Cimitero monumentale di Staglieno) resembles an open-air sculpture museum. The figures here seem to be alive: every gesture, a look is filled with feeling, and you do not just look at them, but understand everything they want to say.

The Staglieno cemetery is located on a hill on the outskirts of Genoa. Exact address: Piazzale Resasco. The construction of the necropolis took place in the forties and fifties of the nineteenth century. The cemetery, designed for 60 thousand graves, was developed by Carlo Barabino. True, the students were finishing the project: the life of the architect was carried away by the plague that broke out in the city.

Right in front of the entrance to the cemetery is a huge statue of Venus. Behind it is a copy of the Pantheon with a marble staircase of seventy-seven steps. Covered galleries lead from the Pantheon in different directions, where crypts of the rich and famous are arranged. And not only on the sides: the floor of the galleries is also laid out with slabs of tombstones. Each grave here is a unique sculptural composition. There are angels, and grieving women, and whole families gathered at the bedside of the departed. Since the day of its opening, the cemetery has expanded, and there are 2 million graves on an area of ​​33 hectares.

City fortifications

The earliest wall of medieval Genoa, which has survived to this day - mura del Barbarossa, appeared in the middle of the twelfth century (there were seven lines of fortifications). It had three gates through which one could get into the city. Two of them have survived to this day:

1. - the main gate, which is located three hundred meters south of Ferrari Square on Piazza Dante (five hundred meters is the house of Columbus). The gates are open to visitors and the tourist can climb the spiral staircase to the observation deck of the tower;
2. Porta dei vacca- located from Ferrari Square at a distance of nine hundred meters in the northwest direction.

In the fourteenth century, the walls were extended southeastward to the west side of Carignano Hill. The length of the fortifications was 4.5 km, which made it possible to protect an area of ​​155 hectares from the enemy. These walls quickly became obsolete: weapons appeared that could pierce them.

Therefore, two centuries later, they were updated and strengthened. The Porta Siberia gate appeared on via del Molo, which is an example of the military architecture of the Renaissance. They are located eight hundred meters from Ferrari Square to the west. Another gate of those times appeared five hundred meters southeast of Piazza De Ferrari. They are called the gates of the Arches (Porta degli Archi).

The last line of fortifications is known as the New Wall (Mura Nuove). The walls were erected in the twenties and thirties of the seventeenth century to protect against the troops of the Duke of Savoy and the French king. The length of the ring of fortifications was twenty kilometers, of which seven were along the coastline. This made it possible to protect an area of ​​nine hundred hectares. In a hundred years after the start of the construction of Mura Nuove, the Genoese built 16 forts and 95 bastions, many of which are visible to travelers who come to Genoa from the sea.

Parks

There are many parks and botanical gardens in Genoa. Therefore, the Genoese and guests of the city, wandering along the ancient streets, may well have a rest in nature. A feature of Genoa's parks is that many of them are located in villas with museums. The park, which is located directly next to the old city walls, is also interesting. The city is not devoid of municipal parks.

At the end of the twentieth century, along the line of the fortification walls of Mura Nuove, the Genoese discovered the Parco delle Mura Natural Park, which covers an area of ​​617 hectares. Nine hundred species of plants grow here, birds and animals live, many of which are endemic, therefore, protected by law. Thanks to this, the Genoese call the park the meeting place of the city and nature.

You can walk in the park, or you can cross it by cable car. The route lies high above sea level and the traveler has a magnificent view of the mountains, forests, pastures, towers, city walls.

The Villetta di Negro Park surrounds the Edoardo Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art. In front of its entrance there is a statue dedicated to Giuseppe Mazzini.

The park is located on a hill, so there are many paths leading up. Tourists who come here from the noisy streets of the city seem to find themselves in another world: here are grottoes with waterfalls, clean air, aviaries with exotic birds. The hill overlooks Genoa and the lush vegetation of the park (palms, cedars, sequoias, pines).

The park appeared thanks to the Marquis Gian Carlo Di Negro, who at the beginning of the nineteenth century built a villa on a hill overlooking Piazza Corvetto. Near the villa there was a botanical park, where gazebos, artificial ponds, and a waterfall were installed. When the Marquis died, the city acquired the villa and park from his heirs in order to build several museums there.

Park del Aquazola

The city park Del Aquasola (Spianata dell'acquasola) is located on a hill. The exact address is 4 Viale Novembre. One part of the Parque del Aquazola is bordered by a fourteenth-century fortress wall.

The construction of Spianata dell'acquasola began in the twenties of the nineteenth century. It was then that the La porta dell'Olivella gate was included in it.

The park is a favorite vacation spot for the Genoese: there are football fields, tennis courts, roller-skating, and track and field tracks. There is an opportunity to relax near the artificial lakes, where swans and ducks swim, or to walk along the alleys that are laid along the trees.

How to get there

You can get to Genoa by train: there are two city train stations - Genova Principe and Genova Brignole. Eurostar and Intercity trains come here from various parts of Italy and Europe.

• We recommend: how to buy a ticket for in Italy yourself.

Traveling by train is also interesting because on the square near Genova Principe, which is called Piazza Acquaverde, travelers are greeted by a monument to Christopher Columbus. An Indian girl sits at his feet, and on the pedestal is a high relief depicting a council in Salamanca, on which Columbus convinces those present about the expediency of his voyage.

You can fly to the city by plane: six kilometers from the center is the international airport. Christopher Columbus (Aeroporto di Genova-Cristoforo Colombo). It is interesting because it is located on an artificial peninsula. After landing, you can get to the center by minibus, taxi or pre-order a car.

A magnificent view of Genoa will open to the traveler if he arrives by sea: ships come here from all the major ports of the Mediterranean Sea. From here, you can, if you wish, go on a cruise, take a ferry to neighboring cities, or book a boat excursion along the coast.