Tourist information on Genoa, Italy

Genoa (known to Italians as Genova) is an important seaport and major city in northern Italy, the capital of both the Province of Genoa and the region of Liguria. Situated between the Ligurian Sea and the Apennine Mountains, it stretches along the Mediterranean coast for about 30 kilometres and about 10 kilometres inland along the valleys Polcevera and Bisagno. One of the most important hubs of trade and culture in Renaissance Italy, Genoa is now a thriving industrial city, and also a centre of education, with one of the oldest and largest universities in the country. Genoa's historic centre is the very essence of the medieval-Renaissance Italian city and offers a wealth of historical architecture and museums, whilst the surrounding countryside, with its rolling hills and stunning sea views, can only add to its allure.

The history of Genoa is as fascinating as the city itself. In the 4th century BC, it was inhabited by the ancient Ligurians, although archaeological evidence suggests that it may previously have been a base for the Phoenicians. Having allied itself with Rome, Genoa was destroyed by the Carthaginians in 209 BC. The city was soon rebuilt and became a thriving trading port, benefiting from its strategic location on the Mediterranean. In the 6th century, it was a Byzantine stronghold with an impressive naval fleet. The city was captured by the Lombards in around 643 AD, before coming under the control of the Franks in 773. For the next few centuries, Genoa remained an obscure fishing town, but in the 11th century it prospered through its sea trade and shipbuilding, rivalling Pisa and Venice in its wealth and power. By the 12th century, the city had become an independent state and the Republic of Genoa grew to encompass Liguria, Piedmont, Sardinia and Corsica. By allying itself with the Byzantine Empire, Genoa expanded further into the Black Sea and Crimea. This long run of prosperity came to an end with the arrival of the Black Death, which devastated Genoa's economy. Following a series of military defeats by the Venetians and the French, Genoa came under the rule of the Visconti of Milan and subsequently lost many of the territories it had won in the previous centuries to the Ottoman Empire. In 1528, Genoa was captured by Admiral Andrea Doria and came under the rule of Spain. With money flowing into the city from Spanish banks, Genoa experienced an economic boom in the 16th century and attracted numerous great architects and artists. This good times did not last however. Around half of the population was wiped out in the plague of 1656 and in 1684 the city was partially destroyed by a French naval bombardment. Its political and economic power further declined as the trade routes to the New World moved away from the Mediterranean. In 1797, Genoa became a French protectorate called the Ligurian Republic and was annexed by France in 1805. The Genoans regained their freedom from France in the revolt of 1814, but the city then became part of the Kingdom of Sardinia, controlled by its long-term enemies, the House of Savoy. It was anti-Savoy sentiment that galvanised Genoa's support for a unified Italy. During the industrial revolution, Genoa underwent rapid growth and became one of the three largest industrial cities in Italy. Today, Genoa is an economically active city, thriving through its traditional industries (shipbuilding and sea trade) and also new high-tech industries, such as electronics and aerospace.

Genoa's historical city centre is one of the largest in Europe and is the perfect archetype of the old Italian city. Between the Old Harbour and the Piazza de Ferrari, a large modern square, there is a rat's nest of winding narrow streets, studded with restaurants, bars and shops and imbued with a palpable sense of Vecchia Italia. There are several important landmarks located in the vicinity of the Piazza de Ferrari. First there is the Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace), the formal residence of the Dukes of Genoa. Although this dates back to the 13th century, most of the present building is a more recent restoration, including its neoclassical-style renovation after a fire in the 18th century. Today, the frescoed halls on the main floor are used for public events. Nearby is the Romanesque cathedral, Cattedrale di San Lorenzo, which is distinguished by its black and white striped façade and an elegant Renaissance side-chapel dedicated to John the Baptist. Just south of the Piazza de Ferrari is the Casa di Cristoforo Columbus, the house in which Christopher Columbus (the city's most famous son), is reputed to have been born.

To the west of the Piazza de Ferrari and the Doge's Palace is one of Genoa's main attractions, the Old Harbour (Porto Antico). The oldest part of the port of Genoa, this was redeveloped into a large public area by the architect Renzo Piano. Its most popular attraction is the Aquarium, the largest in Italy, which is a major educational and research centre with around 600 species of marine flora and fauna. Next to this is the Museo del Mare (Museum of the Sea), the largest maritime museum on the Mediterranean. The Old Harbour also contains cinemas, cafés and the Bigo, a lift on a crane that offers panoramic views of the city and waterfront. To the southwest of the old port is the Lanterna, Europe's oldest lighthouse and an important emblem of Genoa.

Genoa's deceptively named New Town lies just to the east of the Old Harbour and makes a striking contrast with the Old Town, somewhat less claustrophobic and much grander in its architecture. Instead of the higgledy-piggledy narrow streets of the Old Town there are sedate avenues like the Via Garibaldi (formerly known as Strada Nuova and Via Aurea), lined with baroque palaces built in the 16th century to house Genoa's nobility. These include Palazzo Rosso, Palazzo Grimaldi and Palazzo Bianco. On the Via Balbi is the Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace), the residence of the Savoy family, the future rulers of a united Italy. Another noteworthy palace is the Palazzo del Principe, the home of Andrea Doria in around 1530. Heading further eastwards, between the Piazza de Ferrari and Piazza della Vittoria, we come to the Via 20 Settembre, Genoa's main shopping precinct.

In addition to the cathedral, there are several other notable churches in the historic centre. Most of these are of Romanesque design, for instance San Donato, Sant'Agostino and Santo Stefano, but some, notably the ornately decorated Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato, are Baroque in style. The Chiesa di San Siro, near the Palazzo Spinola, was Genoa's cathedral until the 9th century. San Pietro in Bianchi is one of Genoa's more unusual churches - it stands on top of some shops whose rent paid for the church's construction. Running along the coast in Genoa's southeast corner is the Corso Italia, an attractive promenade which leads to Boccadasse, a pretty resort and fishing area. Landmarks to be found along the promenade include the small lighthouse of Punta Vagno, San Giuliano Abbey and the Lido of Albaro. Another of Genoa's attractions is the cemetery of Staglieno, which is well-known for its monuments and statues. One of city's most interesting museums is the Edoardo Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art, which houses one of the largest collections of Oriental art in Europe and comprises paintings, Buddhist sculptures, musical instruments, costumes and porcelain.

Genoa has an abundance of green space which offer a welcome relief from its cramped old city, particularly in the busy summer months. The Villetta Di Negro is a picturesque little park right at the centre of the city, and there are plenty of larger parks further afield. To the east, there are some scenic parks in the little seaside suburb of Nervi, whilst to the west there is the Villa Durazzo-Pallavicini with its beautifully landscaped 19th century park. For those who want greenery on a grander scale, there is a funicular railway which takes you to Monte Righi, which offers stunning views of the city and surrounding landscape, and an opportunity to explore the countryside and Genoa's old fortifications. For much of its history, Genoa was defended by long lines of walls, which date back to the 9th century. Large sections of these walls still remain, with a few adjoining fortresses. The most imposing of these are the New Walls (Mura Nuove) which stand on a ridge of hills around the city and were erected early in the 17th century.

The Aeroporto di Genova - Cristoforo Colombo is the nearest commercial airport to Genoa and provides services to many European cities, including Rome, Naples, Paris, London, Madrid and Munich. There is a shuttle bus between the airport and city centre. Genoa's Principe train station offers rail connections to several other cities in Italy, such as Milan, Turin, Rome and Tuscany, whilst Brignole train station provides a regional rail service which includes the city's suburbs. There are ferry services to Barcelona, Bastia, Valletta, Porto Torres, Palermo, Tunis and Tangier. An extensive bus service operates within the city and an underground railway connects the city centre with Principe train station.