Genoa is one of Italy's most intriguing, yet lesser-known, cities. It shines in summer when, as kingpin of the Italian Riviera, it offers access to some of Europe's loveliest coastline. It also revels in art. The Palazzo Ducale 1 , its key cultural hub Piazza Matteotti 9; 00 39 ; palazzoducale.
Cristoforo Colombo Airport 00 39 60 ; airport. The Volabus shuttle β part of the municipal transport network 00 39 ; amt. Genoa, the capital of the Liguria region, is Italy's most westerly seafront city, miles north-east of the French border.
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Geography has lent it a distinctive shape β the first flushes of the Appenine mountains to the north, and the Mediterranean to the south, have long forced the city to expand along the shore, to the extent that it flows 20 miles from east to west but only six from south to north.
This pincer movement makes for a cramped centre which comprises both the Porto Antico, the city's original harbour revitalised in the Nineties as a cluster of bars, restaurants and other attractions , and the Centro Storico, its old town. These are the districts of most interest to visitors, with narrow alleys and historic echoes. Though the city core is constricted, Genoa is steeply slanted in parts so public transport is useful. You can find a tourist information office 4 at Via Garibaldi 12R 00 39 ; visitgenoa.
The Grand Hotel Savoia 6 00 39 27 ; grandhotelsavoiagenova. Click here to see a bigger image of the map. You can gain a snapshot of Genoa, old and new, near the waterfront. This crucial shard of the city's soul was founded in , and has acted as a bank and a prison Marco Polo was held here in It is still in use as the HQ of the port authority 00 39 ; porto. At its north end, the Pasticceria Liquoreria Marescotti 10 Via di Fossatello 35R; 00 39 is a mirror-filled salon that wears its birthdate with pride.
