Things to do in Genoa Genova

"Genoa, a wonderful opportunity"
We’ll tell of Genoa and its historic centre, the largest in Europe, which attracts tourists because of its unusual position: a strip of land between the mountains and the sea. To understand it you should visit its small squares surrounded by the typical buildings in black and white stripes, the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, the Palazzo Ducale, the arcades of Sottoripa, Via Garibaldi and the magnificent architecture of its buildings. Discover its Renaissance palaces, which testify to the greatness of "the Superba", as defined Genoa poet Petrarca in XIV°Century.

We’ll suggest you, if necessary, typical restaurants or trattorie where you could taste fish and pesto cooked in characteristic Genoa recipes, as well as trips to Portofino, Cinque Terre or our magnificent Civic Centre.

MONUMENTS
Genoa is a city rich of places of extraordinary cultural interest, thanks to one of the largest and evocative historic centre of Europe. There is nothing more fascinating than go among the mysteries of Genoa with its narrow "caruggi", a maze of alleys that could suddenly open in front of the large Piazza Banchi with his Loggia dei Mercanti, the splendid Piazza Sant'Agostino with its vibrant majolica, to continue along Via degli Orefici, where you can admire one of the most beautiful doorways of the old city, or arrive up to Colombo House next to Porta Soprana.

- A journey through the history...
A journey through the history ... In the heart of the city there is the splendid Piazza De Ferrari where stands Palazzo Ducale, the fulcrum of Doria power during the old Republic and now multi-cultural centre, which offers important exhibition space in its most prestigious settings. Here there are also the Stock Exchange Palace and the Carlo Felice theatre, that behind its neoclassical facade hides a completely renovated building with a scenic area of 574 square meters, 2000 places and three interacting stages

- The Cathedral
Symbol of Faith and Genoa wealth, carries within it the signs of transformation occurred over the centuries. Behind the white and black facade history crossovers the legend: from the dish that accepted the head of St. John the Baptist, to the “Sacro Catino” relic of the Last Supper.

- The golden path
Via Garibaldi and its elegant buildings still can transmit the splendour of a gold period through the marble and baroque crystal, stucco and brocades, hanging gardens and large steps. Among the buildings surrounding it, Palazzo Bianco and Palazzo Rosso where you can admire the works of the great masters of world painting as Rubens, Caravaggio, Van Dyck, Gros, Veronese...

- The symbol of Genoa
La “Lanterna” since 1400 watches over Genoa and its port, giving an extraordinary vision of the Liguria city and its wonderful contradictions: the gaze can contemplate the vastness of the sea, venerate the green hills, or lose in the of slate roofs.

- Museums
The architectural splendour of Genoa buildings is a perfect setting for precious treasures that are kept there. Besides Palazzo Bianco and Palazzo Rosso already mentioned, we signal the Gallery of Palazzo Reale with works by Guercino and Veronese, the Gallery of Palazzo Spinola that keeps paintings by Antonello da Messina and Rubens, the Museum of Tesoro of S. Lorenzo, that in a highly evocative atmosphere keeps the Sacred “Catino”, considered a relic of the Last Supper, or the Museum of St. Agostino, a 1200 convent in which are collected proofs of monuments and vanished areas of the city.

THE OLD PORT
Genoa and its contradictions: ancient and innovative city, where the modern interacts with the past giving always new emotions that invite the visitor to stop to discover the Mediterranean soul. And this is also the “Porto Antico” redesigned by Renzo Piano, which stands among the skyscrapers and the largest Europe historic centre, become one of most visited tourist-cultural area in Italy.

- The Aquarium
It is the largest marine park in Europe, with 61 tanks that reproduce the world marine environments and the Blue Ship Blue where was rebuilt the forest of Madagascar, 6.000 specimens of 600 different species and 1.200.000 visitors each year. Sharks, penguins, jellyfishes, crocodiles, and now one more attraction: the tender muzzle of Penelope, the cute seal born in July. An exciting journey, a unique experience for adults and children.

- The City of Children
And the fun continues with the largest playful area in Italy, where play mixes with learning, like in Peiron, a recently inaugurated multimedia area that allows you to enter the Internet virtual world or in a real television studio where create a newscast.

- The adventure continues...
Thanks to Antarctica National Museum, you can take a wonderful trip in the Antarctic continent and share discoveries of Italian scientific community like missionaries among the glaciers. Or relive the emotions of life on board through spectacular settings and really striking reconstructions, with the proofs of recent transatlantic of 1.000 square meters in the “Padiglione del Mare”. Moreover a futuristic revolving elevator seems to emerge directly from the sea: the Bigo, from which one can admire Genoa from 40 m in height. And if there is still time, you have to slip on Ice Skating, a ice skating rink just above the sea.

THEATRES
- Theatre Carlo Felice:
The bombing of the Second World War swept away the entire wooden structure reducing it to an empty carcass, but in 1987, after nearly a century and a half after its opening, Genoa finally gave the go-ahead for the reconstruction of Carlo Felice, returning to the city one of its symbols. And now, thanks to perfect acoustics and a cutting-edge technology included in a comfortable and elegant setting, the Theatre Carlo Felice has become a reference point for lovers of opera, classic music and ballet. Phone. +39010589329

- Theatre della Tosse:
Great theatre and culture personality like Emanuele Luzzati and Tonino Conte founded in the heart of the old Genoa the first multiplex theatre in Italy. With its avantgarde proposals through a stimulating and exclusive cultural programming, the Tosse can boast an always growing success thanks to really striking initiatives, like the itinerant performances. Phone. +390102470793

- Politeama genovese :
Situated in the centre of Genoa, the theatre can accommodate more than 1.000 spectators; the Politeama is very versatile, from pop concerts to dance essays until entertainment, its true strength, as demonstrated by the great success of a group co-produced by the Politeama, I Cavalli Marci. Phone. +390108393589

- The Archivolto and the Teatro di Genova:
Recognized as "Innovation Theatre", Archivolto has always been committed to the renewal of forms and styles and the many expressive possibilities of theatre language. In the city there is also one of the most important Italian Public Theatre, the “Theatre of Genoa”, that includes two elegant halls, the Teatro della Corte and the Teatro Duse. It stands out for a prestigious theatrical production, as well as for an important school for actors and the Actor’s Museum-Library. L'Archivolto Phone. +39010412135.

http://www.acquariodigenova.it

http://www.centrostoricogenova.com

http://www.cotonecongressi.it/