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.

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

The Old Town of Genoa is famous for its "caruggi", extremely narrow and winding streets excluded from traffic, where not much light reaches. What else does this port city offer?

The Doge's Palace and Piazza de Ferrari

Piazza de Ferrari is the city's main square that now forms 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

The cathedral was built from the ninth to the twelfth centuries, and was later rebuilt and beautified many more 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 shell 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 supposed 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

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.

Christopher Columbus House (Casa di Colombo)

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

Lighthouse (Lanterna)

This lighthouse is one of the oldest still functioning lighthouses in the world. 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

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, this area has been restored and transformed into a modern space with museums, restaurants and cafes.

Galata Maritime Museum

The museum is located on several floors of a modern building and displays 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

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 Biosphere housing a small tropical forest.

Galeone Neptune

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