genoa
By Leah Marie Armstrong . Leah’s from Canada and lives in Portofino, Italy. She’s married to an Italian Captain, who presently works on cruise ships. She is an avid Blogger, Painter and runs a Bed & Breakfast on Portofino Mountain. She spent her earlier career in the cruising, travel and hospitality industry and has a passion for photography, olive picking and Slow Cooking.
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So you have booked your Italian cruise and you see that your port of embarkation is Genoa. You are excited to explore Venice, Rome and Florence and wait a minute? Genoa? Where's that?
Although Genoa is the largest port in Italy, it is mostly unknown to tourists outside of Europe. In addition, Genoa doesn't exactly promote itself as a major travel destination either. In fact, I remember when I first met my husband, I was very confused on how to even pronounce Genoa and all my family members were equally perplexed. "Genoa, like the salami?", my sister in Canada asked. I didn't even know how to respond.
Although Genoa is the largest port in Italy, it is mostly unknown to tourists outside of Europe. In addition, Genoa doesn't exactly promote itself as a major travel destination either. In fact, I remember when I first met my husband, I was very confused on how to even pronounce Genoa and all my family members were equally perplexed. "Genoa, like the salami?", my sister in Canada asked. I didn't even know how to respond.
Genoa is the English version and Genova is the Italian way to say the name of this city of almost 600,000 inhabitants. But then they also call themselves Zêna, which is Genoa in Genoese dialect. Or, to make things even more complicated, if you find yourself at the Paris airport you must look for the word Gênes on the board or you will miss your flight!
Boccadasse
After living in Genoa for six years, I am still discovering new things about this little gem. Its treasures are well hidden and it's in fact the birthplace of Christopher Columbus too. The main squares are Piazza de Ferrari, Piazza Dante and Piazza della Vittoria. The main roads are Via Venti (XX Settembre, but locals call it Venti which is 20 in Italian), Via Roma, and Via San Lorenzo, where you will also see the famous church with the lions in front.
Then of course there's Porto Antico and the Historic Center, also known as the Vicoli - A labyrinth of cobbled streets that bustles with activity in the daytime. There is also the famous Via Garibaldi lined with Palaces and Museums and if you time it right you can go see a famous Caravaggio painting at the Palazzo Rosso.
Most, if not all of these attractions you will find in any tour book you pick up about Genoa but what those books won't tell you is where you will find great pizza, gelato and home made chocolate. Yes, Genoa is famous for pesto, but maybe you don't fancy pesto.
Those guide books also won't tell you about Boccadasse or Nervi, the seaside villages that are easy to get to on a local bus within 20 minutes and well worth the trip.
Then of course there's Porto Antico and the Historic Center, also known as the Vicoli - A labyrinth of cobbled streets that bustles with activity in the daytime. There is also the famous Via Garibaldi lined with Palaces and Museums and if you time it right you can go see a famous Caravaggio painting at the Palazzo Rosso.
Most, if not all of these attractions you will find in any tour book you pick up about Genoa but what those books won't tell you is where you will find great pizza, gelato and home made chocolate. Yes, Genoa is famous for pesto, but maybe you don't fancy pesto.
Those guide books also won't tell you about Boccadasse or Nervi, the seaside villages that are easy to get to on a local bus within 20 minutes and well worth the trip.
Here is a list of my favourite places to go:
* Sciûsciâ e Sciorbî, Via XX Aprile, 30R for the best pizza (near Piazza de Ferrari)
* Viganotti Romeo, Via di Porta Soprana, for the best chocolate experience (at the top of Via San Lorenzo near Columbus' house)
* Gelateria Profumo, Vico Superiore del Ferro, for the best gelato in the city (inside the vicoli on a side street)
* Nervi passeggiata, a wonderful walkway right along the sea. You can take a train from Principe station and be there in 15 minutes!
* Boccadasse, a small seaside village at the end of Corso Italia. Check the local buses for which number will take you there.
Every time I walk past the enormous fountain at Piazza de Ferrari, I am reminded of how great this city is. Yes, it is not perfect and the Genoese are famous for being "closed". But that is part of her charm. She wants you to work a bit harder at discovering her treasures and after all, don't we all appreciate things more when we have to work for them?
Enjoy your treasure hunt!
* Sciûsciâ e Sciorbî, Via XX Aprile, 30R for the best pizza (near Piazza de Ferrari)
* Viganotti Romeo, Via di Porta Soprana, for the best chocolate experience (at the top of Via San Lorenzo near Columbus' house)
* Gelateria Profumo, Vico Superiore del Ferro, for the best gelato in the city (inside the vicoli on a side street)
* Nervi passeggiata, a wonderful walkway right along the sea. You can take a train from Principe station and be there in 15 minutes!
* Boccadasse, a small seaside village at the end of Corso Italia. Check the local buses for which number will take you there.
Every time I walk past the enormous fountain at Piazza de Ferrari, I am reminded of how great this city is. Yes, it is not perfect and the Genoese are famous for being "closed". But that is part of her charm. She wants you to work a bit harder at discovering her treasures and after all, don't we all appreciate things more when we have to work for them?
Enjoy your treasure hunt!
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Want more of Italy? See Bordighera and Bordighera and Lake Como and Photography Holiday and Radda and Sardinia 1 and Sardinia 2 and Skip the Bucket List and Spas and Style & Culture