Genoa – Centro

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Centro is the central part of Genoa, formed by the Municipi Centro Est and Centro Ovest. Centro Est includes the old town, which hosts most of the major attractions of Genoa. This area, especially the neighborhoods of Prè, Molo, and Maddalena, are also known for the many narrow alleys called caruggi. Meanwhile, Centro Ovest includes the major industrial area of Sampierdarena, which was incorporated into Genoa in 1926.

✪ Lanterna of Genoa

The Lanterna is the main lighthouse of Genoa and the most recognizable landmark in the city, located near the port of Sampierdarena. A first tower here was originally built in the 12th century, but it was later damaged and rebuilt in 1543. The structure was further reworked and modernized until the 20th century. Now standing at 77 meters tall, it is one of the tallest lighthouses in the world. Tourists can reach the first terrace located about halfway up the tower, while the top half is operated by the Italian Navy and closed to the public. A small museum focused on the history of the tower, the port, and the city is adjacent to the lighthouse.

✪ Aquarium of Genoa

The Aquarium of Genoa (Acquario di Genova) is the largest aquarium in Italy and one of the most visited aquariums in Europe. Built in the area of the Porto Antico and designed by Renzo Piano, it was inaugurated in 1992 and later expanded. The aquarium houses thousands of animals of hundreds of different species. Among these there are also dolphins, penguins and manatees, as well as numerous reptiles, birds, and amphibians. Adjacent to the aquarium is the Biosfera, a spherical structure located on the water, which houses a small rainforest with tropical animals and plants.

✪ Galata Sea Museum

The Galata Sea Museum (Galata Museo del Mare) is one of the largest maritime museums in the Mediterranean, located at the northern end of the Porto Antico of Genoa. The museum hosts an exhibition of the rich and long seafaring history of Genoa, with replicas of historic ships and a collection of old maps and globes. The decommissioned submarine Nazario Sauro (S 518) is docked in front of the museum, and it can be visited as part of the exhibition.

✪ Porto Antico

Porto Antico is the historic harbor of Genoa, which now hosts various tourist attractions, such as the Aquarium of Genoa, the Galata Sea Museum, and Palazzo San Giorgio. Other landmarks here include the Neptune galleon, which is a replica of a 17th-century Spanish ship, and the Bigo, a futuristic panoramic lift designed by Renzo Piano. Located at the southern end of Porto Antico, the Magazzini del Cotone is a former warehouse now housing numerous stores, restaurants, a cinema, and a convention center.

✪ Palazzo San Giorgio

Palazzo San Giorgio is a historic palace located in the Porto Antico of Genoa. Originally built in the 13th century, it was initially meant to host the local government but was later turned into a prison. Marco Polo was once imprisoned here, and dictated his memories to his jailmate, Rustichello da Pisa, who later wrote The Travels of Marco Polo (Il Milione). Palazzo San Giorgio later served as the headquarters of one of the oldest and most powerful banks in Europe, the Bank of Saint George (Banco di San Giorgio). During this time, the palace was expanded with a monumental frescoed facade facing the sea. After the bank ceased its activities, the palace served various uses, and now it hosts the local port authority. The elaborate frescoes on the facade of Palazzo San Giorgio, which were slowly fading, were restored in the the early 20th century and again in 1990.

✪ Genoa Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of San Lorenzo

The Genoa Cathedral (Duomo di Genova) is the main religious site in Genoa. Inaugurated in 1118, the church features a blend of the Romanesque and Gothic styles, and it was expanded with more chapels and decorations over the centuries. Its characteristic facade is adorned with black and white stripes and decorated portals, while the interiors of the church host numerous artworks and ornate chapels, featuring various rich frescoes and elaborate sculptures. The cathedral also hosts an unexploded English bomb that hit the building during World War II. Underneath the church, the Museum of the Treasury (Museo del Tesoro) houses numerous historic religious artworks. Meanwhile, the Diocesan Museum (Museo Diocesano) is adjacent to the cathedral, and it features various archaeological findings along with medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque artworks.

✪ Doge’s Palace of Genoa

The Doge’s Palace of Genoa (Palazzo Ducale di Genova) is a historic palace once serving as the residence of the Doges of Genoa. Originally erected in the Late Middle Ages, it was expanded and reworked numerous times. After a fire destroyed most of the building in 1777, the palace was entirely rebuilt in Neoclassical style. The palace was restored in 1992 and transformed into a museum. Some of its halls are adorned with rich frescoes and numerous sculptures and other artworks.

✪ Piazza De Ferrari

Piazza De Ferrari is the main square of Genoa, located next to the Doge’s Palace. The center of the square is adorned with a large fountain, and it also hosts an equestrian monument of Garibaldi. The square is surrounded by decorated buildings, such as the Palazzo della Regione Liguria, which hosts the local government of Liguria, and the Liberty-style Palazzo della Nuova Borsa Valori, erected in the early 20th century. The Teatro Carlo Felice is located at the northern end of Piazza De Ferrari.

✪ Royal Palace of Genoa

The Royal Palace of Genoa (Palazzo Reale di Genova) is a 17th-century palace erected by the Balbi family in the center of Genoa, which later became a royal residence of the House of Savoy. Now a museum, the palace includes numerous halls filled with lavish Baroque decorations and its original furnishings. The palace also hosts a collection of paintings, mostly from the 17th century, and various sculptures. The Royal Palace is one of the 42 Palazzi dei Rolli included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.

✪ Musei di Strada Nuova

The Musei di Strada Nuova is a museum complex hosted in three of the Palazzi dei Rolli of Genoa, located along Via Garibaldi. Palazzo Rosso houses a collection of paintings mostly by Italian and Flemish artists from the 17th century. Palazzo Bianco instead hosts paintings from the European Renaissance and Early Modern Age, including works by Caravaggio, Veronese, and Rubens. Finally, Palazzo Doria-Tursi includes paintings by Genoese artists, the sculpture of the Penitent Magdalene by Canova, a collection of various historic objects such as ceramics, coins, and a section dedicated to violinist Niccolò Paganini. Palazzo Doria-Tursi also serves as the city hall of Genoa. All three of these palaces are adorned with rich Baroque decorations and frescoed halls.

Teatro Carlo Felice

The Teatro Carlo Felice is the main theater of Genoa and one of the most important opera houses in Italy, located in Piazza De Ferrari. The theater was inaugurated in 1828, and later restored after suffering heavy damage during World War II. The building features a large Neoclassical facade and has hosted many famous composers and musicians.

Porta Soprana

Porta Soprana is a large city gate erected during the Middle Ages. After being engulfed by other buildings over the centuries, it was restored to its medieval appearance in the 19th and 20th century. Porta Soprana is the most prominent of the remaining sections of the ancient Walls of Genoa, of which some parts survive around the city. Other surviving city gates are the medieval Porta dei Vacca and the 16th-century Porta del Molo (or Porta Siberia).

House of Christopher Columbus

The House of Christopher Columbus (Casa di Cristoforo Colombo) is an 18th-century reconstruction of the residence of Christopher Columbus in Genoa, located just outside Porta Soprana, and now hosting a museum. Next to the house are the ruins of the cloister of a 12th-century church and monastery demolished in 1904.

Church of Gesù and Santi Ambrogio e Andrea

The Church of Gesù and Santi Ambrogio e Andrea is a 16th-century church located next to the Genoa Cathedral and Piazza De Ferrari. The church features richly decorated interiors filled with lavish frescoes, and it hosts numerous artworks, including a painting by Rubens.

Church of San Matteo

The Church of San Matteo is a medieval church located near the Doge’s Palace of Genoa. The original Romanesque church was founded in 1125, and later reworked in Gothic style. The interior of the church was renovated in the 16th century, and adorned with rich decorations and various artworks. A small cloister is adjacent to the church.

Palazzi dei Rolli

The Palazzi dei Rolli are a series of palaces built by the Genoese aristocracy mostly between the 16th and 17th century. These palaces all feature rich Renaissance and Baroque decorations and they are mostly located along Via Garibaldi, Via Cairoli, and Via Balbi, three roads collectively known as Strade Nuove (“New Streets”). The Strade Nuove and 42 of the Palazzi dei Rolli are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.

National Gallery of Palazzo Spinola

Palazzo Spinola di Pellicceria is one of the Palazzi dei Rolli of Genoa, and it hosts the National Gallery of Palazzo Spinola (Galleria Nazionale di Palazzo Spinola). This museum includes many halls adorned with rich Baroque decorations and frescoes and it houses many interesting artworks and ancient furnishings.

Basilica of Santa Maria delle Vigne

The Basilica of Santa Maria delle Vigne is a medieval church in the old town of Genoa. Later renovations completely transformed the church, but the 12th-century Romanesque bell tower still survives to this day. The church houses numerous Baroque decorations, along with various sculptures and other ancient artworks.

Edoardo Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art

The Edoardo Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art (Museo d’Arte Orientale Edoardo Chiossone) is one of the largest collections of East Asian art in Italy. The museum houses a rich collection of thousands of Japanese artworks and all kinds of historic objects, including numerous archaeological findings, weapons, armors, porcelains, and more. The museum is hosted in the 19th-century Villetta Di Negro, which is surrounded by a rich garden.

Basilica of San Siro

The Basilica of San Siro is one of the oldest churches in Genoa, originally erected in the Early Middle Ages. However, most of the current building was reconstructed in the 16th and 17th century after being damaged by a fire. The Neoclassical facade was erected in the 19th century. The interiors of the church host a large series of rich Baroque frescoes and various artworks.

Museum of the Risorgimento of Genoa

The Museum of the Risorgimento of Genoa (Museo del Risorgimento di Genova) is a museum focused on the history of the Italian Risorgimento and the unification of the country during the 19th century. The museum is hosted in the birthplace of Giuseppe Mazzini, one of the most important figures of the Risorgimento, and it includes a large collection of historic documents and books.

Basilica of Santissima Annunziata del Vastato

The Basilica of Santissima Annunziata del Vastato is a large Mannerist and Baroque church erected in Genoa during the 16th century. The interiors of the church are richly decorated with a series of lavish frescoes, especially on the ceiling of the central nave. The elaborate fresco on the interior of the dome is considered the greatest work of 17th-century Genoese artist Giovanni Andrea Ansaldo.

Church of Santa Maria di Castello

The Church of Santa Maria di Castello is a Romanesque church erected during the Middle Ages in the old town of Genoa. Over the centuries, the church was expanded and adorned with frescoes, sculptures, and other artworks. An adjacent museum houses more historic pieces of religious art. Next to the church is the Embriaci Tower, the most prominent of the few surviving medieval towers of Genoa.

Museum of Sant’Agostino

The Museum of Sant’Agostino houses an important collection of sculptures and statues from the Middle Ages until the 18th century, along with various other artworks from the same period. The museum, hosted in a former medieval monastery, is temporarily closed while undergoing renovation works.

Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta

The Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta is a large Renaissance church located on top of a hill in the neighborhood of Carignano. The church was originally erected in the 16th century and later expanded and reworked. Its interiors are richly adorned with numerous paintings and other artworks.

Natural History Museum Giacomo Doria

The Natural History Museum Giacomo Doria (Museo di Storia Naturale Giacomo Doria) is a natural history museum founded in Genoa in 1867. The museum houses millions of specimens from all over the world, with large collections of zoology, biology, and geology. The museum also hosts the headquarters of the Italian Entomological Society.

Villa Croce Museum of Contemporary Art

The Villa Croce Museum of Contemporary Art (Museo d’Arte Contemporanea di Villa Croce) is an art museum hosted in a Neoclassical villa in the neighborhood of Carignano. The exhibition includes a collection of thousands of contemporary artworks by Italian and international artists.

Church of Santo Stefano

The Church of Santo Stefano is a medieval church and one of the most prominent examples of Romanesque architecture in Genoa. It was founded in the 10th century as part of an abbey, which was originally a domain of the Bobbio Abbey, but some sections were later reworked. The small church is located on an elevated position near one of the busiest roads of Genoa, and it features a single nave and a crypt. According to tradition, Christopher Columbus was baptized here.

Museum of the Capuchins

The Museum of the Capuchins (Museo dei Cappuccini) is an exhibition area used to house temporary exhibitions mostly featuring artworks from various religious sites of Liguria, but it has also hosted exhibitions of ethnography, local history, and contemporary art. The museum is part of the complex of the Church of Santissima Annunziata di Portoria, which was built during the Renaissance and features rich decorations.

Commenda di San Giovanni di Pré

Commenda di San Giovanni di Pré is a religious complex featuring two Romanesque churches built on top of each other. The structure was originally built during the Middle Ages and gradually expanded and reworked. Part of the complex now hosts a museum dedicated to the Italian emigration.

D’Albertis Castle

D’Albertis Castle (Castello d’Albertis) is a 19th-century residence built in Gothic Revival style on a hill in Genoa. The villa houses the Museum of World Cultures (Museo delle Culture del Mondo), an ethnographic museum featuring objects from all over the world, including numerous archaeological findings. A separate section of the museum is dedicated to the history of music and musical instruments. The castle can be reached through a peculiar funicular and lift system.

Villa del Principe

Villa del Principe is a 16th-century villa in Genoa, built as the residence of Andrea Doria. The villa features numerous decorated halls with various frescoes, tapestries, and other artworks. A garden adorned with statues and a fountain stands in front of the villa.