How To Spend A Perfect Day In Genoa, Italy: The Birthplace of Christopher Columbus

Casa di Colombo

Start the day off in Centro Storico, the old part of the city.  Genoa is most well-known for being the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. You can see a reconstruction of his childhood home just outside the historical city gates. The house is so small that you could easily walk right past it if you didn’t know it was there. There aren’t big signs or hoards of tourists surrounding the house. It sits there in its quiet, quaint glory. I was surprised that more tourists don’t visit the birthplace of Christopher Columbus!
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Piazza De Ferrari

A short walk from the old city gates, you will find Piazza De Ferrari. Piazza De Ferrari is the main square of Genoa and is located centrally in the city between the old and new streets. There are a lot of cafes located by Piazza De Ferrari making it a great spot to stop for lunch. Eat in one of the cafes or for the grab some focaccia to eat in the square. If it’s a hot day, I suggest having gelato by the fountain to cool off.

Via Garibaldi

Stroll down Via Garibaldi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Strade Nuove or “New streets”. The cobblestone street is lined with historic Palazzos from the 16th and 17th centuries when Genoa dominated much of the wealth in Europe. One palazzo leads to the next and they seem to loom over you in the narrow streets. The facades are understated compared to the grandeur inside the walls and courtyards. Many of the Palazzos on Via Garibaldi are open to the public and have tours available. However, keep in mind that the Palazzos are closed on Mondays.
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San Lorenzo Cathedral

Stop by San Lorenzo Cathedral and take in its unique black and white striped marble exterior. The cathedral melds together Gothic, Romanesque and Renaissance styles to create this unique structure. If you would like to enter the cathedral, your shoulders and knees must be covered. I didn’t have something to cover my shoulders so I wasn’t allowed to go inside. Learn from my mistakes; always have a sweater or scarf with you in Italy to cover your shoulders so you can enter churches.
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While I never made it inside, I could still appreciate the exterior. I was especially fascinated by the details around the doors and the lion statues standing guard by the entrance!
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Porto Antico

You can’t go to a port city without checking out the port! Despite the name, Porto Antico is not very old. Porto Antico was restored during the 1992 celebration of Christopher Columbus in Genoa. It is quite modern and has a resort atmosphere to it.  Here you will find many tourist attractions including the Aquarium of Genoa, the largest Aquarium in Italy. It is a great spot to unwind and have dinner yet be aware that prices tend to be higher at the port.
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Righi

To end your perfect day in Genoa, take the Zecca Funicular to Righi. Righi is a town located in the hinterland above Genoa. The Funicular functions as any other public transportation in Genoa, it costs €2 for a ticket that last for 60 minutes. It was a unique ride up the mountain, through the mountainside suburbs of Genoa.

The view from the top was spectacular! From here you can see the port below and the mountains above Genoa. It was the perfect spot to reflect on the day and get a different perspective of the city below. I could have stayed up here admiring the view forever. I found myself drawn to the mountains behind me over the harbor below!

Which of these sights would you most like to see? Be sure to comment below!

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