Guide to the city of Genoa

A Ligurian city with a particular charm, which presents a mixture of urban metropolis and, at the same time is a place of historical beauty. A place that has enchanted actors, singers, writers and poets.

An ancient maritime republic containing a series of wonders not to be missed.

We try to identify some of the most interesting places to visit in Genoa.

What to see in Genoa

Here are some of the places to see in Genoa that is important to include in your travel plan:

Galata / Museum of the Sea

Three floors of wonders to behold. On the ground floor there are rowing boats, while on the first and second floor you can find more insights on the route of the sailing ships and the revolutionary geographical explorations in history.

On the third floor the story of the trip to America is unfold before your own eyes. Point of interest that can not be left out during the visit to the city of Genoa.

The Genoa Aquarium

One of the largest and most famous aquariums in Europe, home to 12,000 specimens and over 600 different species.

It doesn’t only contain marine species. The aquarium also houses freshwater and rainforest animals. It presents 70 exhibition tanks, in which you can also observe seals, penguins, sharks and turtles.

Recent is the pavilion dedicated to the Cetaceans, which was designed by the architect Renzo Piano, and allows you to admire the mammals from a different perspective, both from above and underwater thanks to the basement tunnel.

Lantern of Genoa

You just cannot miss one of the most characteristic places of the city and true symbol of Genoa! The lantern was created to signal the entry into the port of the ships, as well as to control the movement when they were inside.

The construction dates back to the Fourteenth century. It arose where already in 1128 there was a lighthouse that worked through the wood-burning system.

The first olive oil lantern was installed in 1326. In 1340 the municipal coat of arms was painted below. The lantern contains a tower and two slender overlapping volumes, with an adjoining gallery at the top of each one. Inside there is a staircase consisting of 720 steps and a lantern that has lighting elements inside.

Attached to the same tower there is the Lantern Museum, a multimedia site entirely dedicated to Genoa and to the whole territory that includes the entire province.

Cathedral of San Lorenzo

The wonderful cathedral strikes the eye of those surrounding it with its majestic neo-gothic façade and its clear Genoese style.

The side walls date back to Roman times, while for the dome and the bell tower the construction took place in the sixteenth century.

Inside there are three naves, which present many pictorial works of unique beauty. Inside there is also the Museum of the Treasure of the Cathedral, a place that houses works of sacred art that represent real masterpieces.

An example is the Holy Catino, which is identified by the legend with the Holy Grail. Moreover, in this place are kept the ashes of St. John the Baptist, and also objects of worship belonging to the patron saint of the city.

To conclude, it is necessary to visit the historical center of the city, which is an area full of charm and history that does not leave us indifferent.