Genoa, Italy

St. Lawrence Cathedral

This majestic building seems like a remarkable optical illusion thanks to the black-and-white striped façade, made of marble-an impressive sight even by Italian standards. The ancient Gothic cathedral was consecrated in the early 12th century, while its two bell towers and domes were added only in the 16th century. Inside the cathedral, above the main entrance, there is a lunette featuring scenes of the Last Judgment-a work by an unknown Byzantine artist from the early 14th century. In 1941, it miraculously survived when a British bomb hit the building but failed to detonate. San Lorenzo Cathedral is located on the Old Town’s namesake square. It is open daily from 9:00 to 12:30 and from 15:30 to 19:00.

Ferrari Square

This is the city’s central square and, of course, the most beautiful and popular in Genoa. It is surrounded by numerous historic buildings and monuments: the Doge’s Palace, the Ligurian Academy of Fine Arts, the neoclassical theater of Carlo Felice, the monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi, the Palazzo of the Duke of Galliera, and the Palazzo della Borsa, which is closed to visitors, built in the Art Nouveau style and once the stock exchange for the whole country. From Piazza Ferrari, the city’s main shopping street begins-the XX Settembre Street.

Doge’s Palace

The construction of a suitable building for the city council began in 1298, when Genoa, having achieved a decisive victory over its main rival at sea-Venice-felt especially strong. Also here, in 1339, the city’s first Doge, Simone de Boccanegra, took up residence. That is how the palace came to be called the Doge’s Palace. The palace burned, was rebuilt, and expanded until it took on its present appearance. Today, this vast palace is more like a town estate than a typical Italian palazzo. The Doges lived here until 1797, succeeding one another until Napoleon arrived and abolished the office. Today, the palace’s spacious rooms are usually given over to exhibitions.

Gates of Port of Soprana

Once, these gates served as the main entrance to medieval Genoa. Since then, the city has grown considerably, and the Porta Soprana Gates, built in the 12th century, are now practically right in the middle of it all. In the 19th century, so that the gate towers would not stand idle, they were adapted as a prison. Of course, only for a short time, because this such ancient structure needed large-scale restoration and rebuilding. Today, Porta Soprana is one of the city’s focal points. On warm evenings, locals and visitors gather here to listen to the sound of the brass band. You can also climb up onto the gate towers completely free of charge. The view of the city from them, by the way, is wonderful.

Lanterna Lighthouse

Lighthouse La Lanterna (from the Italian lanterna - lantern) is an important maritime landmark and one of the main symbols of Genoa. It was built in 1128, rebuilt many times and destroyed, and its current appearance was established (and has been successfully preserved to this day) in 1543. Originally, it was erected on a peninsula jutting out into the sea. Over time, the sea receded, and today the lighthouse stands on “full-fledged” land. The height of La Lanterna is 117 meters. If you climb it, you’ll enjoy a wonderful view of the Genoese harbor. However, to admire it, you will have to climb 375 steps. Inside La Lanterna there is also a museum telling the story of Genoa’s glorious maritime history and its world-famous lighthouse.

Old Port

The Old Port of Genoa is about a 12-minute walk west of the central square. Many historic buildings that have survived to the present day are also located here, among which the cotton warehouses are especially interesting. The Old Port is one of Genoa’s entertainment centers. It features the city aquarium, the botanical garden, the maritime museum, a replica of a pirate ship, and a port crane that lifts a glass cabin to a height of 60 meters and allows you to enjoy panoramic views of the city and the harbor.

Genoa Aquarium

Rising above the water, the long blue building of the aquarium houses more than 5,000 marine creatures, for which six million liters of water are used. An enormous barge is docked at the end of the aquarium building-its voyage will take visitors back to the era of the Great Geographical Discoveries and introduce them to the tropical forests of Madagascar. According to experts, it is the Aquarium-built in 1992-that attracts the highest number of tourists to Genoa every year. The Genoese aquarium is located on the Ponte Spinola in the Old Town. Visitors are welcome from 9:30 to 19:30, Monday through Wednesday and Friday, until 22:00 on Thursday, until 20:30 on weekends from September to June, and until 23:00 in July and August. The price of an adult ticket is 24 euro, and a children’s ticket is 15 euro.

National Gallery in the Spinola Palace

A mansion built in the 16th century belonged to the Spinola family-one of the most powerful dynasties of the republic. The National Gallery located here features an extensive collection of Italian and Flemish Renaissance art, which pairs perfectly with the palace’s amazing architecture. The Spinola Palace is situated on Piazza Superiore di Pellicceria and is open to visitors from 9:00 to 20:00, Tuesday through Saturday, and from 14:00 to 20:00 on Sunday.

Old Town

The real face of Genoese life must be sought in the labyrinths of the Old Town. Here it is always noisy with the cries of vendors, and coffee, street food, perfume, and the unique Ligurian Pesto fill the air. The term “Caruggi” refers to the narrow alleys typical of the Ligurian Riviera. It is used less often for streets and even less for squares. In the Middle Ages, these streets-passageways helped people move quickly around the city during defenses against pirate raids. And until the official ban in 1958, the alleyways had entrances to public houses. Via Garibaldi is packed with little shops and street musicians and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. Here you can find such palaces as Palazzo Rosso and Palazzo Turzi, which today serve as exhibition galleries.

Botanical Garden “Biosphere”

The Botanical Garden in Genoa was placed in an unusual setting. A twenty-meter glass sphere was built for it, designed to imitate the Earth. Inside, the conditions of the Amazon rainforest were recreated, where visitors can admire exotic plants and, in an almost natural environment, see wild animals. Across the web, it is described as a giant greenhouse. The sphere, conceived by Italian architect Renzo Piano, was built to mark the 500th anniversary celebration of Christopher Columbus, to illustrate the route of the great navigator.

Albaro Beach

For centuries, rich, talented and famous people have lived and vacationed in Albaro, including Byron, Dickens and many others. Even today, this area remains extremely prestigious: it is full of luxurious palaces and villas, both old and new. Since swimming in the city center is impossible-unless only in pools-locals and tourists choose Albaro Beach as the best option for swimming “as close to the center as possible.” And it’s true: the trip is short, the sea is quite clean, and there are plenty of nearby places to grab an inexpensive bite to eat. Even the crowds around can be a plus: there are plenty of city fashionistas with luxurious curves in eye-catching swimsuits, and athletes with well-developed muscles and an even, sun-kissed tan.

Guided Sightseeing Tour of Genoa

The best way to start exploring Genoa is with a sightseeing tour: you will see Porto Antico (Old Port), which is especially convenient for those arriving on a cruise liner, the Aquarium, the Biosphere’s glass sphere, Palazzo San Giorgio, the Church of San Pietro, built on the roofs of shops, the Cathedral with the relics of John the Baptist and its magnificent Treasury, Piazza Ferrari, the Doge’s Palace, the opera house, the Stock Exchange, the Porta Soprana gates, Columbus’ house, the millennium-old Church of San Donato with masterpieces of painting, and much more.

You can view a more detailed list of excursions and their prices after booking your cruise in the “Client’s Personal Account”.