Genova (Genoa) is a beautiful Italian city with a very fascinating history. It was one of the four Maritime Republics (together with Amalfi, Pisa and Venice), and its harbour was one of the busiest and most active (in terms of traffic), not only in Italy but throughout Europe. Needless to say, the sea and the harbour still represent an important aspect of this city: because of them Genoa has a magical and unique atmosphere, now even more special thanks to its Aquarium that hosts the most extensive range of aquatic biodiversity in Europe! But Genoa’s main characteristics do not stop there. Its geographical position allows it to boast an amazingly varied landscape. Genoa lies in the Italian region Liguria, a narrow strip between sea and mountains that has in its territory, sea, the Apennines and the Alp. To conclude, what makes Genoa even more magic is its traditional foods. You should know that the Italian sauce pesto was invented there, but if you visit this city you cannot leaving without trying also its spectacular focaccia and its farinata!
Attractions
Acquario di Genova
The Acquario di Genova is the Aquarium home to the most extensive range of aquatic biodiversity not only in Italy, but also in Europe. The exhibition gallery consists of more than 70 exhibits and approximately 12,000 specimen of 600 extraordinary species coming from all over the world. If you love the sea and its special inhabitants, you definitely should visit this Aquarium. Take your time to admire some of the rarest species of the world (like manatees, marine mammals probably at the origin of the legend of mermaids) and some of the most popular ones (such as dolphins, penguins and sharks). The Acquario is 10 minutes walk from the main train station, Genova Principe, and is open 365 days a year. Its opening hours vary according to the month: you can find the complete timetable here . Admission is free for children under 4 years old. Reduced tickets costing 17 € are available for children between 4 and 12 years old (valid identity document needed at the entrance). Regular tickets cost 25 €. People with certified handicap or over 65 pay a reduced ticket of 22 €. Many options are available: for instance, you can add further experiences (such as a guided tour, access to the Sea Museum or to the panoramic lift) buy paying a bit more.
Our tips: do not wait until the last minute to organize your visit. Often you can find very good deals, such as family tickets or great discount on a regular ticket if you search online. Have a look at the websites Groupon and Grupalia, or at the official website of the Acquario before going to Genova! If you book online you will skip the (often long) line at the ticket office, and most probably you will save money.
La città dei bambini e dei ragazzi (The children and young people’s town)
Are you travelling with children? From the bottom of our hearts, do not miss this place! Many Italian children still remember the wonderful moments spent in the città dei bambini e dei ragazzi. That town, very close to the Acquario, is the place where your children can learn a lot about science and technology while having fun. This “town” is actually a building where young visitors between 2 and 13 years, accompanied by their parents, can observe very different topics and can make their own experiments. Some numbers? Over 3000 square meters, more than 90 interactive and multimedia exhibits! There, children have the opportunity of enjoying role-playing games by exploring very interesting jobs (perhaps they might be young scientists struggling with the transformation of energy, or expert journalists with a good career inside a realistic TV studio featured by cameras and director control panel). Absolutely fantastic! Opening hours: from 10am to 6pm (last entrance 4.45pm). Closed on Mondays except for the months of April, May and August. Admission is free for children under 2 years old. Reduced tickets costing 5 € are available for children between 2 and 3 years old. Tickets for children aged 3-13 years old cost 7 €. Adult tickets cost5 € for the first adult, < b>3 € for the second adult or for visitors over 65.
Cattedrale di San Lorenzo
After being refreshed properly, you can continue your itinerary to visit the best historical attractions of Genova. Leave the promenade and head over to via San Lorenzo: there the scenery changes immediately! Left behind the sea, the port and its open spaces, Genova starts showing its true nature. The narrow streets (called vicoli or caruggi) and a mix of fragrances will surely leave you intrigued while walking towards the cathedral. You are at the heart of the ancient medieval city, where the San Lorenzo Cathedral stands out among many other buildings of great religious and civic value. Among these, you can notice the Palazzo Ducale and the Archbishop’s palace. Admission is free but visitors have to be modestly dressed (cover your shoulders and knees). Opening hours: from 8am to 12pm; from 3pm to 7pm.
Palazzo Ducale
The heart of Genoa would not be the same without the “elegant salon of the city”, Piazza De Ferrari (De Ferrari square). In that square you can find one of the most important palaces of Genova, Palazzo Ducale (Ducal Palace), in the past home to the Doge of Genova. The building was restored in 1992 for the anniversary celebrations of the discovery of America (you should know that Cristoforo Colombo is one of the local glories of Genova), and now it hosts houses museums and magnificent temporary art exhibitions. The Palace really deserves a visit, if you add also that there you can admire very well-organized art exhibitions (in 2016 painting by Andy Warhol, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Monet, Cézanne, Degas, Renoir, Matisse, Modigliani, Kandinsky, and Picasso were there), there are no excuses not to go visit it. Learn about what there is to see here or here (the last one is in Italian).
Piazza del Portello
After the visit of the Acquario, it is time to have a look at Genova. For one of the best view of this port city, take the public lift (ascensore Castelletto Levante) at Piazza del Portello up to the Spianata di Castelletto. Why? Well, first lift itself is one wonderful Art Nouveau jewel, built more than one century ago, in 1909. Second, the view, stretching from the mountains down to the crystal sea, is so amazing that some Italian poets, like Giorgio Caproni, wrote poetries about that! One ticket costs €0.90.
Boccadasse
Inside Genova, at the east of the city centre there is a picturesque fishing village that will remind you the typical Ligurian villages, full of colours and perched between the coastline and the sea. There, you can appreciate the serenity that reigns in the small beach, and you can taste the authentic Ligurian life style. Boccadasse can be easily reached by public transport, but you can also walk starting right from downtown (the Brignole railway station is approximately three kilometres away). We are sure you will definitely enjoy the trip: you will start walking among the famous and popular monuments of Genoa, and immediately you find yourself surrounded by the quiet of a small seaside village. If you don’t have enough time, or if you prefer to take a bus, take the bus 31 from Genova Brignole: in 10 minutes you will be arrived.
Food and drink
Historic cafés
One of the best Genoese historic cafés, Cambi Caffè has an elegant atmosphere and a rich tradition. The coffee is prepared using the Faema E61, a traditional manual coffee machine, while sweet cioccolatini and tasty focaccia are made according to the tradition of this region. Downstairs you can find an elegant café, perfect for a good breakfast with focaccia or croissants. Upstairs, the frescoed ceilings by Bernardo Strozzi will make you travel in time, going back to the Seventeenth Century. There, in the evening, you can sip special fruity cocktails prepared by Vito Necchi, a renowned Genoese barman.
Confetteria Romanengo, specialized in sweets (especially candied fruits and chocolate), was open in 1780 and has remained exactly the same: everything is made according to old family recipes, unchanged in centuries! Among its historical customers there are important names such as Giuseppe Verdi, the Doria and the Savoia family. In particular, the royal family bought at this Confetteria sweets to celebrate the wedding of the future King Umberto I. The best sweets and bonbons in Genoa, definitely!
If you love coffee, Caffè Orefici is the place for you. The speciality is the “caffè pasticciato” (messy coffee): coffee with the addition of particular traditional creams. The classic caffè pasticciato is the “nocciolato” (nutty): coffee, hazelnut, whipped cream and biscuit. The clients are mainly local residents, and no doubt, you will struggle to find a table. Our tips? Stand at the bar rather than sitting down. This is how Italians do at the bar, enjoying all the comings and goings, and this is also much cheaper!
Where to have lunch?
As already said, you cannot leave Genova without trying the traditional pesto genovese. Traditionally, pesto consists of crushed garlic, Italian pine nuts, basil leaves, Parmigiano-Reggiano (Parmesan cheese), coarse salt, and pecorino sardo (cheese made from sheep’s milk), all blended with olive oil. One of the best place to taste the original pesto in Genoa is for sure the restaurant of Panizza, Il Genovese in Via Galata. Not only Panizza really knows how to make pesto, but he is also a true ambassador of the original receipt: he invented and launched the World Pesto Championship, and his restaurant obviously offers a pesto sauce prepared and served according to the regulations. Our tip is to try gnocchi al pesto or trofie al pesto, but there you will find many other regional foods that might tempt you. Prices around 10-15 €, nice atmosphere but be aware: there is little space between tables. The restaurant is open also for dinner, but it is often very crowded and, because of that, you do not have s much time to enjoy your dinner.
If you are visiting Genoa in a sunny day, do as Italians do: just buy a slice of focaccia and have your lunch in front of the sea! The focaccia is a flat oven-baked variant of the Italian bread, very similar in texture to the Italian pizza dough. In Genoa, focaccia is seasoned with olive oil and salt, and despite its simplicity, it is for sure one of the favourite foods of many locals. Our tip is to buy your focaccia at Focaccia e dintorni , in a very narrow street of the city centre, via Canneto il Turco (near via San Lorenzo). There you will find the delicious and warm focaccia Genovese at every hour of the day, and, for the most GOLOSI, there are several variants: focaccia alle olive (olive focaccia), focaccia allo stracchino (focaccia with a soft Italian cheese called stracchino), focaccia con verdure (vegetable focaccia), focaccia al pesto (focaccia with pesto sauce)…For a normal lunch two slices should be enough, and you will spend around 3 € for each piece.
Have you ever heard the word farinata? This is another Italian traditional food with very old origins. It is a sort of flatbread, made by mixing chick pea flour and water, olive oil and salt (some variants have further embellishments). According to the tradition, it should be baked in a wide and well-seasoned copper pan. Italians enjoy Farinata when it is still warm, after having sliced it into squares or wedges. Many Genovesi consider U Veximà (via Cerusa, 1B) the best place to eat it. There you will find some dishes based on fish but also a spectacular farinata: soft inside and crunchy on the outside, not greasy and very easy to digest. Try the fabulous classic farinata and some special variants (with onions, with prawns, and with artichokes, if the season is the right one). The cost of one slice of farinata is a bit higher than in other places, but the quality compensates it. Lunch with several types of farinata, water, dessert and coffee around 20€. Would you prefer something closer to the centre? Try another restaurant well known by locals for its farinata, Sciamadda (via Ravecca, 19R).
Where to have dinner?
Would you like a restaurant very close to the beautiful Mediterraneo sea? Onde Quadre is the restaurant for you. The location is quite romantic, the food very good, the quality of wines high and prices very reasonable. The menu ranges from the tagliata di carne to fresh fish, from traditional Ligurian dishes to dishes from other Italian regions. The fish is very tasty and fresh: depending on the season, you can find shrimps, lobsters, anchovies and tunas. In general, on dinner with dessert will cost you around 20€. Remember: you can also go and enjoy an aperitivo (with wine and some appetizers) before dinner, and then move to have dinner in another place.
If you are walking around downtown, you should try Ombre Rosse . Located a short walk from the Palazzo Ducale, this restaurant is really a typical restaurant of Genoa: very romantic (you will be surrounded by books, paintings and antique furniture), and at the same time with a very good menu. There you can taste both regional dishes and Italian cuisine, all followed by an extensive wine list (if you love wine, you should definitely go there!). Some anticipations of the menu? Trofie (a type of fresh hand-made pasta) al pesto, (a type of fresh hand-made pasta with a sauce of pistachios and almonds), palmita fish with vegetables. One main dish with a bottle of wine will cost you around 20-25€.
Accomodation
Genova is full of hotel and b&b, therefore finding the right accommodation should not be problematic. We suggest that you have a look at some travel fare aggregator websites to find good deals. Our tip is to avoid the zone around Via di Sottoripa. Although its position is very good (in front of the Acquario), in the evening and during the night it can be a bit dangerous. Via Balbi, Piazza della Nunziata and Piazza del Portello are better locations.
If you budget is not particularly high and you want not just an accommodation for the night, but an opportunity to experience the city and enjoy its rich historical, artistic and cultural heritage, the well-located Manena Hostel might be the right option. The hostel is located in a strategic position to visit the city, and is it run by very friendly young men who always give good tips about places to see and nice events. Not only, toilets and showers are always incredibly clean, and a full kitchen for self-catering can be used by anyone at every hour! Manena Hostel offers dorms for 5, 8 or 12 persons at around 20€ per night (for more info click here).
A great 3-stars hotel close to via Balbi is the Cit Hotel Britannia, just a few steps away from the train station Genova Piazza Principe and from the cruise ships terminal. In ten minutes you can reach the Acquario, the Palazzo Ducale, and the ancient harbour. Not only: many visitors really appreciated the breakfast, the games room for children and a circus for babies up to 6 months. Double rooms from 70€.
Do you want a romantic place to charm your partner? You will have to spend a bit more, but for sure you will conquer her/his heart. The 3-stars hotel Le Nuvole Residenza d’Epoca , 5-minute walk from the harbour, is elegant and modern at the same time. What makes this hotel very special is the mixture of architectural features and minimalist setting. Double bedrooms from 150€per day.
Transportations
The closest airport to Genova is Genoa Airport Cristoforo Colombo. The connection between the airport and the centre of Genova is also secured by the bus company Volabus: outside the airport, you can buy the ticket directly from the driver. The ticket costs 6€ and give you also 60 minutes by public transport (metro, bus, tram) in Genova. If you buy it online, you save 1€, but be aware that the website is in Italian. If you want to start your trip from the Acquario, we suggest that you get off at “Principe FS”. From there you can take Via Balbi, turn onto Via delle Fontane, get to the Porto Vecchio and turn left to find the Acquario! Otherwise, if you want to go downtown, get off at “De Ferrari”.
If your flight arrives at Torino or Milano, you can go to the train station (Porta Nuova for Torino, Milano Centrale for Milano) and then take the train to Genova. The high-velocity train (intercity) from Torino to Genova takes 1.40 hour and costs 10€, the intercity from Milano to Genova takes only 1.30 hour and costs 13€.
Once in Genova, you can decide to walk or to take the bus. A single ticket costs 1,50 € and is valid for 100 minutes. If you are planning to take more than one bus during the day, perhaps the day-ticket (4.50€) is the most convenient solution! If you are 4 persons, buy the 4-person-day-ticket (9€).
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