Genoa

Genoa is a town of 566,247 inhabitants in the province of Genoa, in Liguria, Italy. It is the capital of Liguria.

The municipality covers 243.6 km², with a density of 2,324 inhabitants per km².

The nearest airport is Genoa (GOA), about 8 km away as the crow flies. Read our guide to the airport.

The superb maritime republic

Genoa, "la Superba", was one of the great maritime republics and the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. Its historic centre, a maze of narrow alleys called caruggi, is one of the largest in Europe, squeezed between the mountains and the port.

What to see

The Palazzi dei Rolli, the noble palaces along Via Garibaldi, are a UNESCO site; some, like Palazzo Rosso and Palazzo Bianco, are museums. The cathedral of San Lorenzo, Piazza De Ferrari and the Ducal Palace are the heart of the city. The Old Port, redesigned by Renzo Piano, hosts the Aquarium, one of the largest in Europe. Climb to Castelletto by lift for a view, and walk to Boccadasse, a fishing village within the city.

Food

Genoa is the home of pesto, to be eaten with trofie or trenette, of focaccia, farinata made with chickpea flour and the vegetable pie torta pasqualina.

Around Genoa

Camogli, Portofino, San Fruttuoso and the Cinque Terre to the east; the beaches of the Riviera di Ponente to the west. Genoa has an airport and ferries to Sardinia, Sicily and Corsica.

Genoa on the map

Nearby towns

All towns in the province of Genoa →