Discover Genoa: Palazzi, Museums and the Sea

Genoa combines an impressive urban history with unusual museums, harbour views and a long seafront promenade. If you choose a holiday apartment in Genoa, you can plan your trip around the experiences that appeal most to you and your family. In the historic centre, the Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli take centre stage. Both date from the late 16th and early 17th centuries and make the city’s historical development an immediate focus of your stay.

Palazzi, the cathedral and Genoese street food

The Strade Nuove and the Palazzi dei Rolli represent Europe’s first example of an urban development project parceled out by a public authority within a unified framework. Via Garibaldi forms the centre of the UNESCO World Heritage ensemble comprising the Palazzi dei Rolli and the Strade Nuove in Genoa. San Lorenzo Cathedral was built around the year 1098 on the site of an earlier basilica from the 5th or 6th century. The old “sciamadde” are also part of the cityscape and offer a break with a local character. These are traditional food shops associated with street food.

Maritime history to explore

The Galata Museo del Mare is the largest maritime museum in the Mediterranean and makes a clear impression on anyone interested in the sea, travel and maritime history. At the museum, visitors can explore the interior of the Nazario Sauro S 518 submarine. This experience brings maritime history closer not only through exhibitions but also through a tangible interior space that can be explored on foot. Especially for families, this can be a varied complement to the historic streets and buildings in the city centre.

Staglieno and a captain’s home

The Cimitero Monumentale di Staglieno was officially opened to the public on 1 January 1851. Visitors can take part in guided tours and themed walks there. This allows you to shape your visit around different interests without having to commit to a single perspective. The Castello D’Albertis Museo delle Culture del Mondo also gives visitors the opportunity to enter the former home of Captain Enrico Alberto D’Albertis. From Montegalletto Hill, Castello D’Albertis overlooks the harbour of Genoa.

Sea views in Nervi

The Anita Garibaldi promenade in Nervi shows another side of Genoa. It is a two-kilometre-long terrace overlooking the sea. Depending on your travel plans, you can give different weight to cultural sightseeing, maritime impressions and time by the water. For families with children of different ages, it can be helpful to establish your preferred daily rhythm before choosing a holiday apartment: Should the focus be on palazzi and the cathedral, on museums and the harbour, or on the seafront promenade?

The right holiday apartment for your travel plans

Genoa therefore offers several clearly defined areas of interest that you can consider when planning your trip. A holiday apartment in Genoa is particularly well suited to your plans if you do not view the city merely as a starting point for individual attractions, but want to arrange your days around culture, maritime history, local food culture and sea views. Before deciding, consider which of these focuses should take up the most space on your trip. This way, you compare not only accommodation but also the type of holiday you would like to spend in Genoa.

If you would like to discover other places besides Genoa, you can find Montebruno, Arenzano, Gorreto, Ronco Scrivia, Campo Ligure, Vescina, Santa Margherita Ligure and Pedemonte here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Genoa.