Holiday apartment in Genoa: palazzi, museums and green paths

Genoa combines culture, harbour life and green landscapes with a history that can be seen in its museums, palazzi and fortifications. Between historic collections, paths through forests and views over the Ligurian coast, it offers many different impressions.

Culture and history

The Cimitero Monumentale di Staglieno is an open-air museum; admission is free. The Castello D'Albertis Museo delle Culture del Mondo is housed in a neo-Gothic castle. It contains ethnographic and archaeological material collected by Captain D'Albertis on five continents. The Castello D'Albertis can be reached by the Montegalletto lift, whose entrance is 50 metres from Genova Piazza Principe railway station.

The UNESCO site comprises 42 Palazzi dei Rolli in the historic centre of Genova. The Musei di Strada Nuova form a museum tour with more than 75 rooms dedicated to Renaissance and Baroque art. At the Palazzo Rosso, 17th-century art is presented through the collections and historic furnishings of the Brignole-Sale family. During one weekend, dozens of public and private palazzi belonging to the Palazzi dei Rolli open to the public and are presented by scholarly guides.

Harbour and museums

Porto Antico was redesigned by Renzo Piano in 1992 on the occasion of the celebrations marking the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America and is now a tourist centre of the city of Genova. There, visitors can enjoy aperitifs, dine out, go shopping, watch a film, ice-skate or swim. The Acquario di Genova covers 27,000 square metres and displays around 11,000 animals from 450 different species. Forty large tanks faithfully recreate underwater habitats. The Galata Museo del Mare includes interactive multimedia stations and a shipyard.

Green spaces and paths

In addition to the 17th-century city walls, the Parco delle Mura includes 16 military forts built between the end of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century, and has protected 617 hectares of green hills since 2008. The historic aqueduct of Genova forms a walking route through forests and along paths leading to Porto Antico. Along the way, it crosses the Staglieno Monumental Cemetery and includes a hidden underground section within the city area.

The Parchi di Nervi form a large green area consisting of several gardens that now house art museums for modern and contemporary art, as well as important cultural and specialist events. Their green paths lead to the rocky coast of Capolungo and offer exceptional views of the Golfo Paradiso and the Portofino promontory. Villa Durazzo Pallavicini offers an immersive tour through a romantically inspired garden. Its park is structured as a theatrical narrative with three acts and twelve scenes and includes two lakes, small waterfalls, streams, fountains and varied garden architecture in neoclassical, neo-Gothic, rustic, Chinese-inspired and exotic styles.

Getting there and special routes

Genova is served by Cristoforo Colombo Airport, located in Sestri Ponente and connected to the centre by public transport. The seaport facilities connect Genova with the main ports of the Mediterranean, railway lines serve the city from east to west, and four motorways – A12, A10, A26 and A7 – lead to Genova by car. An approximately 800-metre walk leads to the rocky promontory with the Lanterna lighthouse. The fortifications contain a multimedia museum, and the first viewing terrace can be reached on foot.

The narrow-gauge Trenino di Casella railway runs for 25 kilometres along the Apennine ridge between Valle Scrivia and Val Polcevera, passing through steep slopes, valleys and forests. The cycling and trekking routes in Genova include the Voltri–Crevari–Passo della Gava–Monte Reixa route.

A taste of Liguria

The competition for Pesto alla Genovese in Liguria attracts participants from all over the world and has an international jury of gastronomic experts.

More local pages: Rossiglione, Bracco, Camogli, Casarza Ligure, Chiàvari, Moneglia, Genoa, Lavagna, Rapallo, Recco, Santa Margherita Ligure, Sestri Levante, Comeglio, Tessi, San Colombano, Ruta, Portofino, Nervi, Borzonasca, Arenzano, Savignone, Pegli, Sestri Ponente, Moconesi, Sant'olcese, Pieve Ligure, Serra Riccò, Leivi, Sori, Castiglione Chiavarese, Tiglieto, Valbrevenna, Cogoleto, Zoagli, Vobbia, Sella, Bargone, Bogliasco, Uscio, Montebruno, Coreglia Ligure, Casella, Casanova, Bargagli, Montoggio, Favale Di Malvaro, Santo Stefano D'aveto, Cicagna, La Costa, Orero, Vescina, Pedemonte, Lorsica, Neirone, Busalla, Ronco Scrivia, Campomorone, Masone, Carasco, Torrazza, Roverazza, Mignanego, Gaiazza, Velva, Campo Ligure, Ne, Stibiveri, Statale, Mele, Gorreto, Mortola, Sanguineto, San Salvatore, Casà, San Lorenzo della Costa, Cogorno, Prati, Nascio, Fascia, Rezzoaglio, Prato, Bricco, Isola del Cantone, Testana, Teriasca.

To the overarching travel overview: Liguria.