Genoa - Buses and Buses - Transportation - Attractions and Sightseeing.

Genoa is a city in northwestern Italy, the capital of the Liguria region. It is located between the Ligurian Sea, which is part of the Mediterranean Sea, and the Ligurian Alps and the Northern Apennines. The city's population is nearly 600,000. The Republic of Genoa was founded in the 10th century and for the following centuries, along with Venice and Pisa, was one of Italy's maritime powers. Genoa's most famous resident was Christopher Columbus.

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What to see in Genoa? Genoa - sightseeing and top attractions

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Genoa's Old Town is famous for its "caruggi", extremely narrow and winding streets excluded from traffic, where little light reaches. What else does this port city offer?

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The Doge's Palace and Piazza de Ferrari

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Piazza de Ferrari is the main city square that is now the boundary between the old and new parts of the city. In its center is a large fountain. The Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale) is the official seat of power in the city, which once also housed a prison. The Doge's ruled the Genoese Republic throughout its history, from the 11th to the end of the 18th century. Today, the palace's interiors host exhibitions and cultural events.

San Lorenzo Cathedral

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The cathedral was built from the 9th to the 12th century, and later still rebuilt and beautified many times. It combines French Gothic features with Renaissance style. Note the Romanesque portal from the 12th century, the beautiful frescoes inside or the chapel with a 13th-century sarcophagus believed to contain the remains of St. John the Baptist. In the nave you can see an anti-tank missile from the British battleship HMS Malaya, which mistakenly hit the cathedral during shelling in 1941, fortunately it did not explode. The cathedral's treasury contains, among other things, the patera on which the head of John the Baptist was said to have been given to Salome, and a bowl considered by some to be the Holy Grail, the vessel used by Jesus at the Last Supper.

Palazzo Reale in Genoa

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The palace belonged to the Balbi family (hence it is also called Palazzo Stefano Balbi) and, from the 19th century, also to the Savoy dynasty. It was built between 1643 and 1650 in Renaissance style. The interiors, with original decorations and furniture, are open to the public.

Home of Christopher Columbus (Casa di Colombo)

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This historic building located in Piazza Dante is a 17th century reconstruction of the house where Christopher Columbus is said to have been raised. Inside you can see memorabilia of the famous sailor and explorer.

Lighthouse (Lanterna)

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This lighthouse is one of the oldest lighthouses in the world still in operation today. It dates back to 1543, when an earlier lighthouse standing on the site was rebuilt. It rises on a 40-meter-high rock and is 77 meters high. There is an observation deck on the first floor.

Port of Genoa

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The Port of Genoa is Italy's most important port. Part of it is the Old Port, which has a history dating back as far as 1,000 years. While there, it is worth seeing the Palace of St. George (Palazzo San Giorgio) distinguished by its beautiful painted facade and the old city gate - Porta Siberia. Nowadays, the area has been restored and transformed into a modern space with museums, restaurants and cafes.

Galata Maritime Museum

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The museum is housed on several floors of a modern building and depicts the history of sailing, maritime discoveries and struggles on the seas from medieval times to the present. There are also exhibits dedicated to Italian emigrants mapping the path they took in search of better living conditions. The museum is interactive and arranged in an interesting way. One of the biggest attractions is the opportunity to board a real submarine.

Genoa Aquarium

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This is the second largest oceanarium in Europe. Inside you can see sharks, dolphins or even stroke a stingray up close. Nearby is a large glass sphere called the Biosphere housing a small tropical forest.

The Biosphere is a large glass sphere called the Biosphere.

Galeone Neptune

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This galleon is a replica of a 17th century Spanish galleon built for the filming of Roman Polanski's movie "Pirates." The ship is moored at the waterfront and open to the public.