La Superba
Genova is a vertical city, squeezed between the sea and the mountains: colourful buildings climbing the hills, funiculars and public lifts, and a harbour that has been its heart for centuries. The poet Petrarch called it "la Superba" (the proud one), and the nickname stuck.
A bit of history
For more than seven centuries, from the 11th century until 1797, Genova was the capital of the Republic of Genoa, one of the great maritime republics of the Mediterranean: its merchants and bankers traded from the Black Sea to Northern Europe. Christopher Columbus was born here around 1451, and the airport next to the festival is named after him.
The wealth of those centuries can still be seen in the Strade Nuove and the Palazzi dei Rolli, the noble residences where the Republic hosted kings, popes and ambassadors: they have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006.
What to see
- The old town and its caruggi: a maze of narrow alleys, historic shops and small squares, one of the largest medieval old towns in Europe.
- Via Garibaldi and the Palazzi dei Rolli: Palazzo Rosso, Palazzo Bianco and Palazzo Tursi, now museums.
- The Old Harbour (Porto Antico): redesigned by Renzo Piano for Expo 1992, with the Aquarium and the Bigo, the panoramic lift over the harbour.
- The Lanterna: the 77 metre lighthouse, symbol of the city, visible from more than 30 km out at sea.
- Piazza De Ferrari: the big square with its fountain, between the Carlo Felice theatre and the Palazzo Ducale.
- Boccadasse: a tiny fishing village with colourful houses on the sea, perfect for an ice cream at sunset.
What to eat
Don't leave without trying focaccia (even for breakfast, dipped in cappuccino like the locals do), basil pesto with trofie or trenette, chickpea farinata and focaccia al formaggio from Recco.
To get around the city, see the Visit Genova page.