GENOVA | LIGURIA

Discover Genoa

Genoa consists of thirty kilometres of city spread along the wonderful Ligurian coast, with the Alpine-Apennine mountain chain in the background.
Genoa became a ‘Proud Republic’, defined by Petrarch as the “royal city” and ‘lady of the sea".
Queen of trade between the thirteenth and fifteenth century, Genoa was the third Italian maritime republic after Amalfi and Pisa. Symbols of the period of the Maritime Republic are the Palazzo Ducale, Piazza San Matteo, San Lorenzo, Piazza Banchi, Piazza Caricamento, Palazzo San Giorgio and Porto Vecchio.
Sixteenth and seventeenth Genoa is visible in the splendour of Via Garibaldi and the beautiful galleries of Palazzo Rosso and Palazzo Spinola. Records of the nineteenth century are Castello D'Albertis, the Circonvallazione a Monte, Piazza Corvetto and Via XX Settembre.
Genoa’s vocation for the sea is recalled every year during the Nautical Fair, which attracts fans from all over Europe.

Visit Camogli in Genoa province. Camogli’s colourful houses overlook the Gulf and its historical harbour. These coloured houses that face the sea, with their paler, horizontal lines (called ‘stringcourses’), made it easier for sailors to recognize their own home. In the late Middle Ages Camogli had hundreds of sailing ships and was known as ‘the town of a thousand white sails’. This history is reflected in typical dishes, such as fish soup with gallette di marinaio (round flat buns) and Camogli’s special anchovies.

Passing through firs, pines, cypresses and olive groves you come to Punta Chiappa, the western foot of Mount Portofino.
Mount Portofino was one of the first protected nature reserves in Italy (founded in 1935). In addition to Punta Chiappa, interesting hikes can be arranged to San Fruttuoso and Portofino.

The Abbey of San Fruttuoso – or more correctly, the Abbey of S. Fruttuoso di Capodimonte – is an ancient monastery located in the S. Fruttuoso bay in the municipality of Camogli. Unreachable by road, it is only accessible by sea or by the steep path down from Mount Portofino that overlooks Golfo Paradiso.
Portofino is a succession of elegant shops, flights of steps through greenery, and yachts. Above the town stands Castello di San Giorgio, now a private residence, but open to the public.