Genoa Italy Travel Guide | The Birthplace of Christopher Columbus

A major city and seaport in northern Italy, Genoa Italy was the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. There has been a settlement here since the dawn of time, that already had a long and troubled history before Christ was born. During the Dark Ages it remained obscure, but then emerged as an independent city-state with a large merchant fleet, protected by one of the most powerful navies in the Mediterranean. The hustling atmosphere of the large, workaday modern city has prejudiced Genoa Italy in tourist terms, which is unfair – the medieval old town is the equal of any in Europe. Here some information about Genoa Italy Travel Guide…

Genoa Italy Travel Guide

Genoa’s busy port is still vital to the local economy, and was smartened up for the city’s recent term as a European Capital City of Culture. The old harbour is a ‘must see’ in Genoa Italy, if only to ascend the bizarre II Bigo monument (erected to celebrate the Columbus quincentennial in 1992) for incomparable views of city and sea (as far as Corsica on a clear day). The harbour has a maritime museum and aquarium.

From there, it is a steep climb up narrow medieval streets full of tempting little shops and punctuated with magnificent churches to three main squares at the heart of the old city – Banchi Square, once the grain market and now home to flower sellers, Ferrari Square and Matteotti Square. Be sure to find the imposing Ducal Palace. Close by is the wonderful Baroque Gesu Church, containing two Rubens paintings.

The old city’s contrarily named Strada Nuovo (now Via Garibaldi) was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006. This mid-16th century district contains the palaces of Genoa’s most eminent families. For a lesson in Genoese architecture over the centuries, see the Cathedral of St Lawrence, consecrated in 1113 and added to until the late 1600s.

Population Of Genoa Italy

620,000 (2006)

Genoa Italy Travel Guide | When To Go To Genoa Italy

Summer, for all the open-air attractions round the harbour and in the old town.

Genoa Italy Travel Guide | Don’t Miss To Visit This Place

• Genoa’s signature building – the world’s oldest working (and tallest brick) lighthouse, La Lanterna.
• The Palace of San Giorgio above the old harbour, where Venetian explorer Marco Polo was imprisoned in the late 13th century, using the time to write an account of his travels.
• Stone-built twin towers of the medieval city gate that is one of Genoa’s famous landmarks.
• The grand monument in Acquaverde Square to favourite son Christopher Columbus (he donated some of his Americas prize money to alleviating poverty in Genoa).
• The renowned monuments and statues in the Staglieno Cemetery.
• A stroll around the Boccadasse, the atmospheric old mariners’ quarter on the city’s eastern waterfront.

You Should Know About Genoa Italy

Genoa’s flag is the red cross on a white ground of St George, identical to the national flag of England.

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