Province of Genoa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Province of Genoa
Genoa
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Map highlighting the location of the province of Genoa in Italy
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| Country |  Italy |
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| Region | Liguria | |
| Capital | Genoa | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 1,838 km2 (710 sq mi) | |
| Population | ||
| • Total | 890,863 | |
| • Density | 485/km2 (1,260/sq mi) | |
| Postal Code |
16010 - 16049, 16100
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| Telephone prefix |
010, 0185
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| ISTAT | 010 | |
| Vehicle registration | GE | |
| No. of communes | 67 | |
The Province of Genoa (called Provincia di Genova in Italian) was an important area in the Liguria region of Italy. Its main city and capital was Genoa. This province no longer exists as it was replaced by the Metropolitan City of Genoa.
About the Province of Genoa
The Province of Genoa covered an area of about 1,838 square kilometers (710 square miles). In 2009, around 900,000 people lived there. This area included 67 smaller towns and villages, which are called communes.
The city of Genoa, which was the capital, has an interesting name. Some say it comes from a Greek god named Janus, who had two heads and protected ships. Others believe it comes from a local word for "knee" (genu), or a Latin word for "gate" (janua).
Genoa is located at the base of mountains, right on the Gulf of Genoa. This gulf is at the northern end of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Long ago, Genoa was a very powerful city that controlled much of the sea trade. Today, you can still see beautiful old buildings there, especially Baroque churches and palaces.
A Look Back at Genoa's History
For many years, Genoa was an independent republic, meaning it ruled itself. But in 1800, a powerful leader named Napoleon became Emperor and King of Italy. Genoa then became part of his French Empire.
After Napoleon was defeated in 1814, Genoa joined the Kingdom of Sardinia. At that time, Genoa was the most important port and trading center in all of Italy.
The Province of Genoa was officially created in 1859 by a special order. It began operating on March 1, 1860. Its first leader was a lawyer named Antonio Caveri. The province was divided into five main areas: Levante, Chiavari, Genoa, Savona, and Albenga. These divisions were similar to how the old Republic of Genoa was set up before Napoleon's Italian campaign.
In 1875, King Vittorio Emanuele II approved the province's special symbol, called a coat of arms. Later, in 1933, the Fascist Government changed the coat of arms by adding a symbol called a fasces.
See also
In Spanish: Provincia de Génova para niños
