First of all: I’ve missed all the important and well-known sights Genoa has to offer. The iconic Lanterna, a renaissance lighthouse built in 1543, the gardens of Villa Durazzo-Pallavicini, the Royal Palace of Genoa, or the Piazza de Ferrari. But, as I had just about 30 minutes in Genoa, I walked around the old Harbor area. I almost ran into a car and I’ve seen fresh fish at local dealers. Welcome to Genoa, the capital of Liguria and the sixth-largest city in Italy.
My short Trip to Genoa was not planned as it was just a quick stop en route to San Bartolomeo al Mare, on the Ligurian coast close to France. So, what to do when you have about half an hour in a City you’ve never been to? Right, walking and walking and walking. I also could have stayed at a cafe the whole time to drink an espresso macchiato, but I rather wanted to see how life down at the old Harbor “Porto Antico” goes.
“Porto Antico”, the old harbor of Genoa, is located close to the actual harbor, and mainly smaller boats can be found there. If you are already in Town you can reach it via the metro station “San Giorgio”, named after the Palace of Saint George, built in 1260. The most famous tourist attractions there are the “Acquario di Genova”, the Aquarium of Genoa, and the glass-bubble right next to, the biosphere. This one is the largest aquarium in Italy and the second largest in Europe, so it’s definitely worth a visit if you have some time.
Food is also very important in Genoa, as in Italy overall, as the region even has its signature dish: the pesto alla Genovese. As I visited the Home of the green pesto made out of basil, pine nuts, olive oil, and Parmigiano-Reggiano Parmesan cheese I, unfortunately, couldn’t try a fresh portion with Pasta. I bet it tastes even better there and some have their own signature recipes. Because of the closeness to the sea, you also find fresh fish being sold at many corners around the harbor.
Genoa has so much more to offer, I definitely have to come back and stay longer to discover more! Have you ever been to Genoa in northern Italy?
Genoa – 30 minutes at Porto Antico
