Genoa - The old port

Genoa

The old port district...and more

Local Destinations

Acqui Terme

Canelli

Monferrato Hills

Nizza Monferrato

Rocchetto Tanaro

Santo Stefano Belbo

Day trips

Bergamo

Genoa old port

Lake Maggiore

Lake Orta

Mondovi

Portofino peninsula

Turin

Riviera of Palms

More information ?

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0039 0141 851 154

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'La Piazza sul Mediterraneo'

In the Middle Ages, Genoa rivalled Venice for the control of the Mediterranean. The Christopher Columbus celebrations of 1992 were an ideal opportunity to remodel the old port area as 'The Square on the Mediterranean'. It is now an area dedicated to leisure and culture, 365 days a year.

Genoa is a day trip from Monferrato - travel by autostrada, or relax on the train. The old port is just a short stroll from the main railway station (Principe), or there is adjacent car parking (fee payable).

Principe railway station

If you come by train, look around you as you leave the station. A statue of Christopher Columbus is also opposite.

Aquarium

The largest aquarium in Europe. Watching the seals play is worth the admission fee alone. Time your entry to avoid the coach parties !

The 'Neptune'

You can board and explore the 'Neptune', a full size replica of a sailing boat, which has starred in a film.

Marina

The marina is a hive of activity as yachts come and go, decks get scrubbed, sails and rigging are repaired and meals are cooked.

'Il bigo'

Get a breathtaking bird's eye view of the porto antico from 40 metres up in the viewing lift

'La Piazza sul Mediterraneo'

Join the Genovese in a stroll around the piazza under the shady palm trees

Old Customs House

St George kills the dragon. Much of Genoa's early prominence was due to the activities of the Bank of St George.

The Guardian

Lions keep watch over the entrance to the cathedral of San Lorenzo

Other attractions at the Old Port

Next to the aquarium is a rainforest biosphere, and there is a Children's City which is dedicated to play, science and technology for children between 3 and 14 years old.

As befits Genoa's history, the Maritime Museum is special: www.galatamuseodelmare.it. The modern facade conceals the old port buildings of the Darsana dockyard which have been refurbished to accommodate the display. The exhibits are all on a nautical theme but wide-ranging, with the 1,500 year reign of the Mediterranean galley particularly well covered, complete with a full-size reconstructed ship. These ships were the mainstay of the famous Genoese Republic.

There is also a poignant display of the age of emigration when so many Italians left their homeland for Ellis Island, off New York, and a new life in the New World. Adult admission (2008) 10 euros.

From alongside the aquarium entrance you can go on a harbour tour, or along the coast to Portofino.

And there are cafes, ice cream parlours and lots of shopping opportunities, as well as places to sit and just watch the world go by. If you enjoy real ale, you will particularly appreciate the bar/restaurant il Bicu with its range of ales (website in English at www.bicu.it.)

And all around the old port, children will love watching the colourful fish swimming around the piers in the crystal-clear blue harbour waters.

Other Genoese attractions

La Lanterna

The Lanterna (lighthouse) is the symbol of Genoa. The current lighthouse is 77 metres high and stands on a 40 metre high rock so the total height above sea level is 117 metres. The light can be seen from 50 kilometres away out at sea.

The Lanterna was built in 1543 and today you can climb up 172 steps to the first stage (admission charge) and get a wonderful view across the city and the harbour. There is also a museum of Genoese life in the surrounding former Savoy fortifications. To visit La Lanterna park at the Ferry Terminal and follow the purpose-built promenade. There is a website with pages in English at www.liguri.org/lanterna/

Duke's Palaces

Construction of the Palace began in 1294 and it became the seat of the first doge of Genoa in 1339; subsequently there have been many alterations and the entire Palace underwent restoration which was completed in 1992. Today the Palace hosts many exhibitions and cultural events, details of which can be found at www.palazzoducale.genova.it

Narrow gauge and funicular railways

The Narrow gauge railway to Casella, 25 kilometres away in the Ligurian mountains, departs from Piazza Manin. The journey takes just under an hour and there are frequent intermediate stops. If you telephone in advance you can take your bicycle and cycle back ( total descent 405 metres). www.ferroviagenovacasella.it

The city itself boasts three funicular railways which climb up the mountainside to upper districts. The shortest, Sant'Anna, is just 357 metres long and climbs 55 metres. The line from the main railway station at Principe (which is technically a cog railway) is 1,136 metres long and climbs 194 metres. The funicular from Zecca to Righi is the longest, being 1,428 metres long and climbing 279 metres. All of these railways, originally built at the turn of the 20th century, offer spectacular views.

E mail: kerrie@anitalianadventure.co.uk

0039 0141 851 154