Top 10 Things to Do in Genoa

by lauren | October 31st, 2009

The capital city of Liguria and an ancient maritime city, ‘Genoa the proud’ has plenty of attractions to tempt the first time visitor. But finding your way around the tangle of hilly, medieval streets can be confusing, and it’s difficult to know where to start!

So we’ve created a guide to the top 10 things to do in Genoa, from trying local speciality pesto to following in the footsteps of Christopher Columbus.

1. The Porto Antico: Genoa is still a thriving port city, but the ‘Porto Antico’ (Ancient Port) has been revamped into an historic quarter, after falling into disrepair. Today the harbour is lined with modern sculptures, and some interesting museums, and the old warehouses have been converted into a cinema and exhibition center. For the perfect introduction to the city, wander along the harbour and check out a replica of a 15th century ship, the Biosphere, a glasshouse of plants that resembles a giant bubble floating on the water, and ‘Il Bigo’, an abstract sculpture that is supposed to resemble ship masts.

2. The Aquarium: After exploring the port, the Aquarium is a must see with the kids. Built by the same architect as the Pompidou Center in Paris, it’s the largest aquarium in Europe, and not just about the fishes - you’ll also find a Madagascan coral reef and a Hummingbird forest inside.

3. Eat at Zefferino’s: Liguria is famed for its excellent food, and Zefferino’s is the best place in Genoa for top quality cuisine. This local institution has fed famous faces like the Pope, but is still packed with local families tucking into regional specialities, whilst the owner charms the socks off diners!

4. Try some Trofie: Liguria is the home of pesto, and each area seems to have its own special variation. Made with fresh basil, local olive oil, pine nuts and pecorino cheese, Genoa’s version is a little saltier, and the tastiest of all. It makes a great souvenir to take home, but to fill up for a day of sightseeing, head to Sa Pesta (Via Giustiniani) in the Centro Storico and order a huge plate of Trofie with pesto. Trofie is a local type of pasta that’s shaped in little squiggles and tastes amazing with pesto - it’s usually served with green ebans and chunks of potato as well.

5. Lift Off! Genoa is one hilly city, and walking around the steep streets can get pretty tiring. So why not take the lift for breathtaking views over the whole city? Head to the Piazza Portello, and head through the tunnel to two lifts. They may look unremarkable, but will take you on a two minute ride to Castelletto, a district perched over the rooftops of the old city.

6. Stroll along the Le Strade Nuove: After your free breakfast, follow in the footsteps of Genovese aristocracy. The ‘new streets’ were built during Genoa’s golden age (1528-1630), when some the city’s most powerful families ruled Europe in the field of finance. They decided to leave the Centro Storico and build a new Genoa on the hilly terrain behind, pouring their wealth into some magnificent buildings.

7. Pick out a Palazzo: There are countless Palazzi with grand gardens to be found, but the most famous street is the pedestrianised Via Garibaldi. The Palazzo Doria Tursi, Palazzo Bianco, and Palazzo Rosso are open to the public – the former is now the town hall, and the latter are now art galleries that are well worth the entry fee, with works by Van Dyck and famous Genoese artists. Grab some lunch from another Focaccerie, or try Farinata, a sort of chickpea pancake baked in an oven, delicious when garnished with artichokes or anchovies.

8. Find some Foccacia: All the streets around the Centro Storico are packed with tiny cafés and food stalls. Foccacia, made with local Ligurian olive oil is a regional speciality, and the Genovese version puts all others to shame. Locals eat it with nearly every meal, and Foccaceries, fast food stalls serving, hot, fresh bread with a variety of fillings, can be found all over the city. Grab some Focaccia to go, stuffed with meat and vegetables, (or smothered in Nutella for a sweet treat ) and sit in a one of the many Piazzas.

9. At Home with Colombus: Make your way through the Caruggi to the 12th century Porta Soprana, two striking turrets that mark the boundary between the old and new city. A couple of other landmarks lie next door. The tiny ‘Casa di Colombo’ was supposedly the birthplace of the world famous explorer Christopher Colombus in 1451, and the neighbouring Chiostro di Sant’Andrea is a ruined Benedectine monastry, built in the 12th century.

10. Verdi’s Favourite Pastry: If you’re hungry, there are plenty of places for food tucked away in the historic center. Genoans don’t really do much for breakfast –their first meal of the day is typically a slice of focaccia or something from a ‘Pasticceria’ (pastry shop) with the all-important espresso. Head to Café Klainguti (Piazza Soziglia 9), the opera master Verdi’s favourite coffee shop in the 1840s, for one of their famous pastries. Klainguti’s specialities are the ‘Zena’ a pastry filled with Zabaglione, and ‘Falstaff’ a wicked hazelnut croissant.

Get Your Bearings: The best way to discover Genoa is to start at Il Centro Storico, the old heart of the city, and the largest medieval city center in Europe. This bewildering web of narrow and steep alleyways is so tightly packed in you can barely see the sky, but each lane careers off to reveal countless medieval churches, hidden squares and a jumble of shops and cafés.

Despite the tight squeeze, tiny cars and mopeds still insist on snaking through each passage, pushing past crowds of locals going about their daily lives.

Get your bearings by starting off in the slightly less claustrophobic Piazza de Ferrari, an open pedestrian square, home to the famous Teatro Carlo Felice and with a huge fountain at the center. This square was a 19th century project to connect the old port city with the new, industrial Genoa that sprawls out onto the hills. From here you can begin to explore the ‘Caruggi’ – the narrow medieval streets.