A Travel Guide to Genoa, Italy

Genoa is located in northern Italy. It is the capital city of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria. The city has a population of about 610,000. Genoa was the European Union's "Capital of Culture" in 2004, which was well deserved given the city's wealth of art, music, architecture, history and food.

Christopher Columbus was a native of Genoa. He donated one-tenth of his income from the discovery of the Americas to the Bank of Saint George in Genoa, which is one of the world's oldest banks. The city attracted many artists, including Rubens, Caravaggio and van Dyck.

Genoa has a Mediterranean climate with oceanic influences. Winter is mild, with an average temperature of eight degrees Celsius in January and summer is warm with an average temperature of twenty-four degrees Celsius on August. The driest month is July, while the wettest months are October and November. Snow usually falls once a year.

There is an excellent transportation system in Genoa. The main railways are Genoa Brignole Station and Genoa Principe Station. Both stations have daily departures to France, Turin, Milan and Rome. There is also a rapid transit system consisting of a light metro.

Conventional tourist routes have long ignored Genoa, but it is a city which offers its visitors incredible attractions and a stunning artistic heritage. Its medieval old town is the biggest in Europe and is an intricate labyrinth of alleyways, where among the shops, restaurants and local stores, visitors can discover the sixteenth century palazzos, baroque edifices and Romanesque churches looming over little piazzas.

There is an abundance of things to see and do in Genoa. It would take several trips to discover everything. There are many churches, cathedrals, museums, art galleries, buildings and monuments. San Lorenzo Cathedral was reconstructed in Romanesque style during the 12th century. The Museo del Tesoro is located in the basement of the Cathedral and holds many precious relics which are the stuff of legend. The Church of Gesu was finished in the 1500s is worth a visit for its works of art: incredible sculptures and works in stucco, and two altar pieces by Rubens and one by Guido Reni.

The Genoa Aquarium is one of the biggest aquariums in Europe, covering ten thousand square meters and containing seventy one display tanks, containing over five hundred sea and ocean-dwelling species which live and reproduce in the Aquarium. The Palazzo Bianco Gallery has an impressive collection of European paintings from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.

The cuisine of Genoa is based on traditional Mediterranean cooking and is very rich in ingredients and flavors. There is plenty of shopping and places to stay. So what are you waiting for? Book your trip to Genoa today.