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Visit GENOA

The Palace of the Doges of Genoa ("Palazzo Ducale" in Italian) is one of the most important historical buildings of the Ligurian city. Once the home of the Doges, it is now a museum and a centre for cultural events and arts exhibitions. It is situated in the heart of the city, with two different entrances and facades, the main one on Piazza Matteotti, and the second one on Piazza De Ferrari. The first parts of the Palace were built between 1251 and 1275, during the flourishing period of the Republican history of Genoa, while the Torre Grimaldina (also named "Torre del Popolo" - Tower of the People) was completed in 1539. The Palace of the Doges was restored in 1992, in occasion of the celebrations of Christopher Columbus and the 500th anniversary of the colonization of America.

The Cathedral of St. Lawrence (Italian: Cattedrale di San Lorenzo) is a church in the Italian city of Genoa, and is the seat of the Archbishop of Genoa. The cathedral was founded probably in the 5th or 6th century AD, devoted to St. Sirus, bishop of Genoa. Excavations under the pavement and in the area in front of today's façade have brought to light walls and pavements of Roman age as well as pre-Christian sarcophagi, suggesting the existence of a cemetery in the site. Later a church devoted to the Twelve Apostles was built, which was in turn flanked and replaced by a new cathedral dedicated to St. Lawrence martyr, in Romanesque style. Money came from the successful enterprises of the Genoese fleets in the Crusades.

The Palazzo Rosso is an historical palace of Genoa. Situated in Via Garibaldi, it is one of the most important picture galleries of the city, along with the galleries of Palazzo Bianco and Palazzo Doria Tursi. Palazzo Rosso was designed by the architect Pietro Antonio Corradi and it was built between 1671 and 1677. The Brignole Sale family owned the palace until 1874, when Maria Brignole Sale, duchess of Galliera, bequeathed it to the city of Genoa, in order to "increase its artistic splendor and practical resources". The palace then became municipal property and it was destined to become a public gallery.

Palazzo Bianco (English: White Palace) is one of the main buildings of the center of Genoa, Italy. It is situated at 11, via Garibaldi (known at one time as Strada Nuova, and before that, Via Aurea). It contains the Gallery of the White Palace, one of the greater city art galleries, and together with those of its neighbors Palazzo Rosso and Palazzo Doria Tursi, it forms part of a cluster of museums at that end of the street.
 

Piazza De Ferrari is the main square of Genoa. Situated in the heart of the city between the historical and the modern center, Piazza De Ferrari is renowned for its fountain, which was restored in recent years along with a major restyling of the square. Today next to Piazza De Ferrari are numerous office buildings, headquarters of banks, insurances and other private companies, making of this district the financial and business centre of Genoa, so that Genoeses popularly refer to it as the "City" of Genoa.

Via Garibaldi is one of the most important streets of the historical centre of Genoa, well known for its ancient palaces. The street dates back to the year 1550. Originally named as Strada Maggiore, then Strada Nuova, only in 1882 its name was dedicated to Giuseppe Garibaldi. It's 250 metres long and 7.5 metres wide. Since July 2006 Via Garibaldi is inscribed in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites as part of the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli and Strade Nuove del Centro Storico of Genoa.

The Cimitero monumentale di Staglieno is an extensive cemetery located on a hillside in Genoa,  famous for its monumental sculpture. Covering an area of more than a square kilometre, it one of the largest cemeteries in Europe. Opened in 1851, the grounds were designed by Genovese architect Carlo Barabino, and include a copy of the Pantheon. The cemetery contains the graves of Oscar Wilde's wife Constance Lloyd, Ferruccio Parri, Fabrizio De André, Nino Bixio, and Giuseppe Mazzini. Significant sculptors with work here include Leonardo Bistolfi, Giulio Monteverde, and Edoardo Alfieri.

The Edoardo Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art in Genoa is an important collection of Asian art, one of the most significative collections in Europe and in Italy, along with the museums of Venice and Rome. The museum hosts the huge collection (over 15,000 pieces) of Edoardo Chiossone, who spent 23 years (1875-1898) in Japan. The exhibition shows many objects and artworks from Japan and China, like sculptures, porcelain pieces, bronze vessels, prints, masks, Samurai armors and helmets. It is situated inside Villetta Di Negro, a public park in the centre of Genoa, next to Piazza Corvetto and overlooking the historical centre and Via Garibaldi.

The Aquarium of Genoa (in Italian: Acquario di Genova) is the largest aquarium in Italy and the second largest in Europe. Built for Expo 92, the Aquarium of Genoa is an educational, scientific and cultural centre. Its mission is to educate and raise public awareness as regards conservation, management and responsible use of aquatic environments. It welcomes over 1.2 million visitors a year. The Aquarium of Genoa is co-ordinating the AquaRing EU project. It also provides scientific expertise and a great deal of content for AquaRing, including documents, images, academic content and interactive online courses, via its Online Resource Centre.

The Torre della Lanterna of Genoa, sometimes referred to simply as "la Lanterna", is the main lighthouse for the city's port. Besides being an important aid to night navigation in the vicinity, the tower serves as a symbol for the City of Genoa, and is one of the oldest standing structures of its kind in the world. It is built on the hill of San Benigno at some little distance from the Sampierdarena neighborhood. The lighthouse is 249 feet (76 m) tall, and is constructed in two square portions, each one capped by a terrace; the whole structure is crowned by a lantern from which the light is shone.

TO DO

Via XX Settembre is the main shopping street and runs between Piazza de Ferrari and Piazza della Vittoria. Mercato Orientale (Eastern Market) is an indoor food and produce market located on Via XX Settembre. Centro Storico (Historic Center) is the old city center with narrow, winding allies and many churches, mansions, shops, restaurants and bars.