Genoa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Genoa Genova  (Italian) Zêna  (Ligurian)
Comune
Comune di Genova
Skyline of Genoa Piazza De Ferrari Genoa Cathedral Palazzo San Giorgio Via Garibaldi Boccadasse Doge's Palace XX Settembre street
Flag Coat of arms
Country	Italy
Region	Liguria
Area
• Total	240.29 km2 (92.78 sq mi)
Elevation	20 m (70 ft)
Population  (1 January 2018)
• Total	580,097
• Density	2,414.15/km2 (6,252.63/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Genoese, Genovese
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	16121-16167
Dialing code	010
Patron saint	John the Baptist
Saint day	24 June

Genoa (pronounced JEN-oh-uh) is a big city in the Liguria region of Italy. It is the capital of Liguria and the sixth-largest city in Italy. In 2023, about 558,745 people lived there. More than 1.5 million people live in the wider area around the city.

Genoa is located on the Gulf of Genoa in the Ligurian Sea. It has always been one of the most important ports on the Mediterranean Sea. Today, it is the busiest port in Italy and one of the busiest in the European Union.

For over 700 years, from the 11th century to 1797, Genoa was the capital of a powerful maritime republic. This means it was a city-state that controlled a lot of trade by sea. From the 12th to the 15th century, Genoa was a major player in European trade. It became one of the strongest naval powers and one of the richest cities in the world. The poet Petrarch even called it la Superba, meaning "the proud one," because of its impressive history and landmarks.

Genoa has had large shipyards and steel factories since the 1800s. Its strong financial industry dates back to the Middle Ages. The Bank of Saint George, started in 1407, was the oldest known state bank in the world. It helped the city become very rich.

The old part of Genoa is one of the largest and most crowded in Europe. In 2006, part of it was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This area is famous for its narrow streets and alleys, which locals call "caruggi." Genoa is also home to the University of Genoa, which began in the 15th century. The city's rich history in art, music, and food made it a European Capital of Culture in 2004. Many famous people were born here, including Christopher Columbus and Niccolò Paganini.

Genoa is a major economic center in Italy. Many important Italian companies are based here, such as Fincantieri (shipbuilding) and Costa Cruises (cruise lines).

What's in a Name?

The name Genoa might come from the Latin word genu, meaning "knee." This could be because of the city's shape. Another idea is that it comes from the god Janus, who had two faces. Genoa also has two "faces": one looking at the sea and one at the mountains. It could also come from the Latin word ianua, meaning "door" or "passage." This might refer to its location in the middle of the Ligurian coast.

Some people think the name comes from an ancient Etruscan word, Kainua, which means "New City." This idea comes from an old pottery piece found with that word on it.

A Look at Genoa's Past

Early Times and Roman Rule

People have lived in the Genoa area for a very long time, since about 5,000 to 4,000 BC. This makes it one of the oldest cities where people have continuously lived. Around 500 BC, the first town was built by the ancient Ligures people on a hill called Castello. This town was known as "the trading center of the Ligurians" because it was great for business.

Genoa became friends with Rome during the Second Punic War. Because of this, the Carthaginians destroyed the town in 209 BC. But Genoa was rebuilt and became a Roman city after the Punic Wars ended in 146 BC. It traded things like animal skins, wood, and honey. Goods were moved between Genoa and other big cities like Tortona and Piacenza.

From the 5th to 10th Centuries

After the Western Roman Empire fell, the Ostrogoths took over Genoa. Later, the Byzantines controlled it. When the Lombards invaded Italy in 568, the Bishop of Milan even moved his base to Genoa. During these centuries, Genoa was a small town. But it slowly built up its merchant fleet, which became very important for trade in the Western Mediterranean. In 934–935, a fleet from the Fatimid empire attacked and burned the town.

The Rise of a Republic

Genoa started to grow a lot during the First Crusade. At that time, about 10,000 people lived in the city. Genoa sent ships and soldiers to help the crusaders. They helped during the siege of Antioch in 1098 and the siege of Jerusalem in 1099.

Being a strong sea power helped Genoa get many good trade deals. Genoese merchants controlled a lot of trade in the Byzantine Empire and other areas.

The 13th and 14th Centuries

Genoa and Venice were big rivals in trade. Venice gained a lot of control over trade in the eastern Mediterranean after the Fourth Crusade. To get back its share of trade, Genoa teamed up with the Byzantine emperor, Michael VIII Palaiologos. In 1261, their alliance helped recapture Constantinople. This made Genoa very powerful in trade. The islands of Chios and Lesbos became Genoese trading posts. Genoa also took over many places in Crimea, like the colony of Caffa.

Around the 14th century, Genoa is believed to have invented blue jeans. The fabric was strong and cheap, perfect for work clothes. The Genoese navy even dressed its sailors in jeans because the material could be worn wet or dry. Genoa also gained trading rights in the Kingdom of Sicily by supporting the Aragonese rulers.

The 15th and 16th Centuries

In the 1400s, two of the world's first banks were started in Genoa: the Bank of Saint George (1407) and the Banca Carige (1483). Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa around 1451. He even gave some of his earnings from his discoveries in the Americas to the Bank of Saint George.

Genoese bankers became very important to the Spanish Empire. They helped fund many of Spain's plans. This period, from 1557 to 1627, was even called the "age of the Genoese." However, Genoa's trade depended on controlling sea routes. Losing Chios to the Ottoman Empire in 1566 was a big blow.

The 17th Century Decline

From the 1600s, the Genoese Republic slowly started to decline. In 1625, a French-Savoian army briefly attacked Genoa. Later, in 1684, the French attacked the city with bombs because Genoa supported Spain. A terrible plague also affected Genoa in 1656–1657.

The 18th Century and the Republic's End

In 1729, Genoa faced a revolution in Corsica, which wanted independence. After 26 years of fighting, Corsica declared itself a republic in 1755. Genoa was too weak to stop it and had to give Corsica to France in 1768. Just a year later, Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Corsica.

In 1745, Genoa declared war on the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was a bad decision. Genoa surrendered to the Austrians in 1746 but was freed by a revolt two months later.

Finally, in 1797, Napoleon directly intervened in Genoa. He overthrew the old rulers, and the Ligurian Republic was formed under French control.

The 19th Century and Italian Unification

After Napoleon's fall, Genoa briefly became independent again, but it only lasted less than a year. The Congress of Vienna decided that Genoa would become part of the Kingdom of Sardinia.

In the 1800s, Genoa became a major seaport and a center for steel and shipbuilding. Many important companies were founded here, like Gio. Ansaldo & C. (shipyards) and Costa Crociere (ferry company). By 1874, Genoa was fully connected by railway to France and the rest of Italy.

The 20th and 21st Centuries

In 1956, Genoa started taking part in the Regatta of the Historical Marine Republics. The Genoa International Boat Show began in 1962, and Euroflora (a flower show) started in 1966. In 1992, Genoa celebrated the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's discovery of the Americas. The old port area was rebuilt and expanded by architect Renzo Piano.

In July 2001, Genoa hosted the 27th G8 summit, a meeting of world leaders. In 2004, the European Union named Genoa a European Capital of Culture.

On August 14, 2018, the Ponte Morandi bridge collapsed, causing many deaths. A new bridge, the Genoa-Saint George Bridge, designed by Renzo Piano, was built very quickly and opened in August 2020. This quick rebuilding became known as the "Genoa model." Since 2021, the city has been working on a big plan to modernize and redevelop Genoa, focusing on the Levante Waterfront project. In 2023, Genoa was the finish line for The Ocean Race.

Genoa's Flag

The flag of Genoa is a St. George's Cross. It has a red cross on a white background.

Genoa's patron saint was originally Saint Lawrence. But in the 11th or 12th century, people started to honor Saint George more, especially during the Crusades. Genoa has used a cross banner since at least 1218. The flag we know today as the "St. George's Cross" became Genoa's main flag in the 14th century.

Some stories say that the flag of England was copied from Genoa's flag during the Third Crusade in 1190, but this is not proven.

Where is Genoa?

The city of Genoa covers about 243 square kilometers. It stretches between the Ligurian Sea and the Apennine Mountains. The city runs along the coast for about 30 kilometers and goes inland for about 10 kilometers along the Polcevera and Bisagno valleys. Genoa is divided into five main areas: the center, the west, the east, and the Polcevera and Bisagno Valleys. Even though much of the city center is low, the areas around it are very mountainous.

Genoa is close to two popular vacation spots in Liguria: Camogli and Portofino. The Aveto Natural Regional Park is also in the Genoa area.

Genoa's Weather

Genoa has a Mediterranean climate. This means it has mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. Because it's located between the sea and high mountains, different parts of Genoa can have slightly different weather.

The average temperature during the day is about 20°C, and at night it's about 14°C. In the coldest months, the average is 12°C during the day and 6°C at night. In July and August, the warmest months, it's about 28°C during the day and 22°C at night. The sea helps keep temperatures moderate, unlike areas behind the mountains.

It rarely gets below 0°C, mostly in January. The coldest temperature ever recorded was -8°C in February 2012. The hottest was 38.5°C in August 2015. It only gets above 30°C about 8 days a year, usually in July and August.

The average sea temperature is 17.5°C, ranging from 13°C in winter to 25°C in August.

Genoa is often windy, especially in winter. Northern winds bring cool, clear air. Southeastern winds bring warmer, humid air from the sea. Snowfall is rare in the city center, but it happens almost every year. Genoa often gets heavy rain in autumn. The city gets over 2,200 hours of sunshine each year.

How Genoa is Governed

City Leadership

The city of Genoa is currently led by a right-wing majority. The mayor is Marco Bucci. He was elected in June 2017. Genoa used to be known as a city that voted for left-wing parties. Mayor Bucci is the first right-wing mayor since 1975.

City Districts

Genoa is divided into nine main administrative districts called municipi. These were approved by the city council in 2007.

Municipio	Population (% of total)	Quartieri
Centro-Est	91,402 (15.0%)	Prè, Molo, Maddalena, Oregina [it], Lagaccio [it], San Nicola, Castelletto, Manin, San Vincenzo [it], Carignano [it]
Centro-Ovest	66,626 (10.9%)	Sampierdarena, Belvedere, Campasso, San Bartolomeo, San Teodoro [it], Angeli
Bassa Val Bisagno	78,791 (12.9%)	San Fruttuoso [it], Sant'Agata, Marassi [it], Quezzi [it], Fereggiano, Forte Quezzi
Media Val Bisagno	58,742 (9.6%)	Staglieno [it] (Parenzo, San Pantaleo), Molassana [it], Sant'Eusebio, Montesignano, Struppa [it] (Doria, Prato)
Valpolcevera	62,492 (10.3%)	Rivarolo, Borzoli Est, Certosa, Teglia, Begato, Bolzaneto, Morego, San Quirico [it], Pontedecimo
Medio Ponente	61,810 (10.1%)	Sestri, Borzoli Ovest, San Giovanni Battista, Cornigliano, Campi, Calcinara,
Ponente	63,027 (10.3%)	Voltri, Crevari, Pra', Palmaro, Ca' Nuova, Pegli, Multedo [it], Castelluccio
Medio Levante	61,759 (10.1%)	Foce [it], Brignole, San Martino [it], Chiappeto, Albaro, San Giuliano, Lido, Puggia
Levante	66,155 (10.8%)	Sturla, Quarto, Quartara, Castagna, Quinto al Mare [it], Nervi, Apparizione [it], Borgoratti [it], San Desiderio [it], Bavari [it], Sant'Ilario [it]

Exploring Genoa's Landmarks

Famous Palaces and Streets

Genoa is famous for its Palazzi dei Rolli. These are grand palaces that are part of a World Heritage Site called "Genoa: Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli." The most famous new streets are Via Garibaldi, Via Cairoli, and Via Balbi. Important palaces include the Palazzo Rosso, Palazzo Bianco, and Palazzo Reale.

Genoa's historic center is a maze of squares and narrow alleys called caruggi. These streets mix medieval styles with later 16th-century and Baroque designs. From Via Garibaldi, you can take an elevator to Belvedere Castelletto. This spot offers one of the best views of the city.

Churches and Cathedrals

The San Lorenzo Cathedral is the city's main church. It has a beautiful entrance and a dome designed by Galeazzo Alessi. Inside, you can find the Cathedral's treasure, which includes what some believe to be the Holy Chalice.

Many other historic churches in Genoa are worth seeing. These include San Matteo, San Donato, and Santa Maria di Castello. These churches show different styles like Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance.

The shrine of Saint Francis of Paola is also well-known. It has an outdoor courtyard with a view of the port. Near Genoa, you can find the Shrine of Nostra Signora della Guardia, which is said to have inspired the writer Umberto Eco.

City Symbols and Views

The symbols of Genoa are the Lanterna (the lighthouse), which is 117 meters tall and can be seen from far away. Another symbol is the large fountain in Piazza De Ferrari, which is the heart of the city. Near this piazza is the Mazzini Gallery, a 19th-century building with shops and cafes.

Another popular place to visit is the old seaside area of Boccadasse. It has colorful boats and is at the end of Corso Italia, a promenade along the sea.

Just outside the city center are Nervi and Pegli. Nervi has a beautiful promenade called Passeggiata Anita Garibaldi and lush parks. Pegli is home to the famous Villa Durazzo-Pallavicini.

Genoa has also focused on restoring its green spaces and building new attractions. The Aquarium of Genoa in the Old Harbour is the biggest in Italy and one of the largest in Europe. It's part of the restored Expo Area, which was created for the 1992 Columbus celebrations.

Old Harbour and Its History

The Old Harbour (Porto Antico) is the oldest part of Genoa's port. Its location made Genoa a great place for trade. Before cars and trains, the sea was the main way to get to and from the city. The mountains around Genoa made land travel difficult. Genoa's trade routes have always connected it globally. In its best days, the Genoese Navy was a powerful force in the Mediterranean.

The Genoa harbor was so important that the city sometimes tried to stop other nearby ports from competing. In the 16th century, Genoese merchants even attacked the Savona harbor to protect their trade. They would even go to war with other trading cities like Venice to keep their business strong.

Architect Renzo Piano redesigned the Old Harbour for public use. He restored old buildings and added new landmarks like the Aquarium and the Bigo. The main attractions here are the Aquarium and the Museum of the Sea.

City Walls and Fortresses

Genoa has been protected by different lines of walls since the 9th century. Large parts of these walls still stand today. Genoa has more and longer walls than any other city in Italy. The most impressive walls, built in the 17th century, are almost 20 kilometers long. Some fortresses are also located along these "New Walls."

Parks and Green Spaces

Genoa has 82,000 square meters of public parks in the city center, like Villetta Di Negro. Many larger green areas are outside the center. In the east, there are the Parks of Nervi, which overlook the sea. In the west, you can find the beautiful gardens of Villa Durazzo-Pallavicini. Many of the city's old villas and palaces also have their own gardens.

The city is surrounded by natural parks like Parco naturale regionale dell'Antola and Parco naturale regionale del Beigua. There is also the Ligurian Sea Cetacean Sanctuary, which is a protected marine area.

Genoa's Aquarium

The Aquarium of Genoa is the largest aquarium in Italy and one of the biggest in Europe. It was built for the 1992 Genoa Expo. It is a center for education and science. Its goal is to teach people about protecting and using aquatic environments responsibly. More than 1.2 million people visit it every year.

Genoa's Economy

In 2011, the Genoa area had a total economic output of about $30.1 billion. This means each person contributed about $33,003.

Farming in Liguria focuses on high-quality products like flowers, wine, and olive oil. The value of flower production makes up over 75% of the farming business.

Steel used to be a major industry in Genoa, but it declined after the 1980s. Now, Ligurian industry focuses on high-quality and high-tech products. These include food, shipbuilding, electrical engineering, and aerospace. The region still has a strong shipbuilding sector, building yachts, cruise liners, and military ships.

The services sector, which includes things like tourism, is also very strong in Liguria. This is because of new technologies, especially in trade and tourism.

Genoa has a good network of highways, making it easy to connect with nearby regions. The Port of Genoa is the busiest in Italy, handling 58.6 million tonnes of cargo. It is also a major port for passenger ferries going to places like Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica.

Some big companies based in Genoa are Ansaldo STS, Ansaldo Energia, Piaggio Aerospace, and Costa Cruises.

Learning in Genoa

Higher education in Genoa started in the 13th century. Private colleges offered degrees in medicine, philosophy, and law. Today, the University of Genoa, founded in the 15th century, is one of Italy's largest. It has 11 faculties and many departments and libraries. In 2007–2008, it had 41,000 students.

Genoa is also home to other important schools and research centers:

• The CNR Area della Ricerca di Genova
• The Accademia ligustica di belle arti (Fine Arts Academy)
• The Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (Italian Institute of Technology)
• The Renzo Piano Building Workshop
• The "Niccolò Paganini" Conservatory (Music School)
• The Italian Hydrographic Institute
• The Deledda International School
• The Deutsche Schule Genua (German School)

The Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) was created in 2003 to promote excellent research. Its main research areas are Neuroscience, Robotics, Nanotechnology, and Drug discovery.

Science and Innovation

Genoa is the birthplace of famous scientists like the geneticist Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza and the Nobel Prize-winning astrophysicist Riccardo Giacconi. The astronaut Franco Malerba was also born here.

The city hosts the Erzelli Hi-Tech Park, which is a science and technology park. It has high-tech companies like Siemens and Ericsson, and robotics labs from the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia. The Erzelli GREAT Campus plans to expand and will host the new Engineering Faculty of the University of Genoa.

Getting Around Genoa

Ports and Sea Travel

Genoa's old port has several terminals for cruise ships and ferries. In 2007, 3.2 million passengers used these terminals. MSC Cruises uses Genoa as a main home port, competing with the Genoese company Costa Cruises. The passenger terminals have berths for cruise ships and ferries.

The historic maritime station of Ponte dei Mille is now a modern cruise terminal. A third cruise terminal is being built in the Ponte Parodi area.

Air Travel

The Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport is built on an artificial peninsula, about 4 nautical miles west of the city. It connects Genoa with daily flights to major cities like Rome, Paris, and London. In 2008, over 1.2 million passengers used the airport.

Public Transportation

The main train stations are Genoa Brignole in the east and Genoa Principe in the west. These stations connect Genoa to France, Turin, Milan, and Rome.

Genoa's hilly landscape affects its public transport. The city has two funicular railways, an inclined elevator, a rack railway, and ten public lifts.

The city's metro, bus, and trolleybus network is run by AMT. The average time people spend traveling on public transit in Genoa is 54 minutes on a weekday.

Genoa's Culture

Art and Artists

Genoese painters from the 14th century include Barnaba da Modena. In the 16th century, trade with Flanders brought cultural exchanges. Famous Flemish painters like Rubens and Van Dyck lived in Genoa. They, along with Bernardo Strozzi, helped create the Genoese Painting School of the 17th century.

Many of Genoa's artworks are in its churches and palaces. The Cathedral and the Chiesa del Gesù e dei Santi Ambrogio e Andrea [it] have beautiful frescos. The Palazzo Bianco has works by Caravaggio and Veronese. The Palazzo Rosso has paintings by van Dyck and Dürer.

Famous Genoese painters include Luca Cambiaso and Bernardo Strozzi. Sculptors include Filippo Parodi. The famous writer and architect Leon Battista Alberti was born in Genoa. Simonetta Vespucci, known as the most beautiful woman of her time, was also born here.

Genoa is also known for its tapestries and its special kind of lace called macramè. The city's unique cobblestone streets are called Risseu.

The Monumental Cemetery of Staglieno has amazing 19th and early 20th-century sculptures. It is the resting place of famous people like Giuseppe Mazzini.

Literature and Writers

"Anonymous of Genoa" was one of the first authors in Italy to write poems in the local language. It is said that Marco Polo wrote his famous travel book, The Travels of Marco Polo, while in prison in Genoa's Palazzo San Giorgio. The Golden Legend, a collection of stories about saints, was written by the Archbishop of Genoa, Jacobus de Voragine.

Genoa has been the birthplace of many important writers and poets, including the philosopher and journalist Giuseppe Mazzini and the Nobel Prize-winning poet Eugenio Montale. The city has inspired many writers, such as Dino Campana and Giorgio Caproni.

Since 1995, Genoa hosts the Genoa International Poetry Festival every June.

Music and Composers

Genoa was an important center for Occitan culture and had a school of troubadours, who were poet-musicians.

Genoa is the birthplace of the famous violinist and composer Niccolò Paganini. His violin, Il Cannone Guarnerius, is kept in Palazzo Tursi. The city also has the Niccolò Paganini Music Conservatory.

In 1847, Goffredo Mameli and Michele Novaro composed "Il Canto degli Italiani", which became the Italian national anthem. In 1857, Giuseppe Verdi's opera Simon Boccanegra, inspired by Genoa's first Doge, debuted.

The Teatro Carlo Felice is the main opera house in Genoa. It was built in 1828. Many famous conductors have performed there.

Genoa is known for its traditional polyphonic vocal music called trallalero, sung by five men. Another traditional style is the "Nostalgic Song" in Genoese dialect. These songs often talk about memories of Genoa.

In the second half of the 20th century, Genoa became famous for its "Scuola Genovese" (Genoese School) of singer-songwriters. This group included famous artists like Umberto Bindi, Luigi Tenco, Gino Paoli, and Fabrizio de André.

Genoa hosts several music festivals, such as Premio Paganini and the International Music Festival Genova.

Cinema and Films

Genoa has been the setting for many films, especially police thrillers. Famous directors born in Genoa include Pietro Germi. Actors like Vittorio Gassman and Paolo Villaggio are also from Genoa.

In 1985, some scenes of the film Pirates by Roman Polanski were filmed in Genoa. The galleon Neptune from the movie was left in the Old Harbour.

Language Spoken in Genoa

The Genoese dialect (Zeneize) is the most important dialect of the Ligurian language. It is spoken in Genoa alongside Italian. Ligurian is a Romance language, similar to those spoken in Lombardy and Piedmont.

Sports in Genoa

Genoa has two major football teams: Genoa C.F.C. and U.C. Sampdoria. Genoa C.F.C. is the oldest football club in Italy, founded in 1893. They have won 9 championships. U.C. Sampdoria was founded in 1946 and has won one Italian championship. Both teams play their home games at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. The local football rivalry is called the Derby della Lanterna.

Genoa also hosts the AON Open Challenger international tennis tournament. The city has hosted parts of the FIFA World Cup in 1934 and 1990.

Genoese Food

Genoese cuisine has many popular sauces. These include Pesto sauce, which is made with fresh basil, pine nuts, cheese, garlic, and olive oil. Other sauces are garlic sauce (Agliata) and Walnut Sauce.

Genoa has many types of pasta, like Trenette, Trofie, and gnocchi. Other popular dishes include Farinata (a chickpea pancake) and various kinds of focaccia, especially "Focaccia with cheese."

Fish is a key ingredient in Genoese food, including sardines, anchovies, and Stockfish. Local cheeses like Prescinsêua and sausages like Genoa salami are also important.

Traditional Genoese dishes include Tripe cooked in different ways, Polpettone di melanzane (eggplant meatloaf), and Minestrone alla genovese. Two special recipes are Cappon magro and Cima alla genovese [it] (stuffed meat). The city is also known for Pandolce, a sweet bread, and Genoise, a type of sponge cake.

Genoa has many food markets, often in old 19th-century iron buildings.

Famous People from Genoa

Many famous people have been connected to Genoa. The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche loved Genoa and wrote some of his works there. Sigmund Freud and Ezra Pound lived nearby. The writer Anton Chekhov called Genoa "the most beautiful city in the world."

Famous Genoese people include:

• Four Popes: Innocent IV, Adrian V, Innocent VIII, and Benedict XV.
• Navigators: Christopher Columbus and Andrea Doria.
• Composers: Niccolò Paganini and Michele Novaro.
• Italian patriots: Giuseppe Mazzini and Goffredo Mameli.
• Architect: Renzo Piano.
• Nobel Prize winners: Riccardo Giacconi (Physics) and Eugenio Montale (Literature).
• Comedians: Gilberto Govi and Paolo Villaggio.
• Singer-songwriters: Fabrizio de André, Ivano Fossati, and Umberto Bindi.
• Actor: Vittorio Gassman.

Some reports say the explorer John Cabot was also from Genoa. Saints from Genoa include Catherine of Genoa.

Museums to Visit

Genoa has many interesting museums:

• Accademia Ligustica di Belle Arti (Fine Arts Academy)
• Albertis Castle
• Doge's Palace, Genoa
• Edoardo Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art
• Galata - Museo del mare (Sea Museum)
• Galleria d'arte moderna (GAM) (Modern Art Gallery)
• Lighthouse of Genoa
• Mackenzie Castle
• Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova (Natural History Museum)
• Museo diocesano
• Museum of Contemporary Art Villa Croce
• Palazzo Bianco
• Palazzo Reale
• Palazzo Rosso
• Palazzi dei Rolli
• Palazzo Spinola di Pellicceria
• Villa Durazzo-Pallavicini

Beautiful Walks in Genoa

Corso Italia is a 2.5-kilometer promenade along the sea. It connects the neighborhoods of Foce and Boccadasse. You can see the small lighthouse of Punta Vagno and the San Giuliano Abbey from here.

The Passeggiata Anita Garibaldi in Nervi is another beautiful 2-kilometer promenade overlooking the sea.

You can also take walks from the center of Genoa along old paths and "Creuze" (narrow alleys) to reach higher areas of the city. These include Belvedere Castelletto and the "Righi's district," which offer great views.

To explore the countryside around Genoa, you can take the Genoa – Casella Old Railway. It's a 25-kilometer railway through the Genoese mountains.

International Connections

Sister Cities

Genoa is twinned with several cities around the world:

• Columbus, United States
• Marseille, France
• Murcia, Spain
• Odesa, Ukraine
• Rijeka, Croatia
• Ryazan, Russia

Cooperation Agreements

Genoa also has special agreements with many other cities, including:

• Athens, Greece
• Barcelona, Spain
• Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Havana, Cuba
• Kyiv, Ukraine
• Lille, France
• Lyon, France
• Moscow, Russia
• Nice, France
• Saint Petersburg, Russia
• Turin, Italy
• Valparaíso, Chile

Consulates in Genoa

Many countries have consulates in Genoa to help their citizens and promote relations. These include:

• Albania
• Austria
• Belgium
• Brazil
• Chile
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Japan
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Russia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom
• United States

Images for kids

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  The port and fleet of Genoa in the early 14th century, by Quinto Cenni

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  The 9 districts of Genoa

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  Staglieno: A monumental cemetery

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  Arco della Vittoria

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  Genoa's metro system

See also

In Spanish: Génova para niños