A traveller's reflection: Italy 2008: 01 Genoa

"If you do not hope, you will not find what is beyond your hopes..."

(1 - 4 March 2008)

(The Italian Port City of Genoa)

It was one of those times when we want to get away from it all and enjoy a long holiday.

We decided to go for a back-packing trip visiting cities in Italy by train, then took a ferry across the ocean to Tunisia. We'll drive around Tunisia visiting historical cities and crossing the Sahara dessert. Later, we will fly to Athens in Greece and go for islands hopping tour in the Agean Sea.

(A poster at Rome International Airport)

Our midnight flight from KLIA arrived in Leonardo Da Vinci Rome International Airport at 6.15 am. From the airport we took the Leonardo Express to Roma Termini, Rome's biggest train station, and one of Europe’s largest as well. Our plan was to skip Rome and take the train direct to Genoa and spend a few days visiting interesting places there.

(On the Leonardo Express to Rome)

Rome train terminal is huge, with 29 platforms and daily service to cities all over Italy as well as in Europe. The train station entrance hall from Piazza dei Cinquecento is lined with shops and restaurants, along with a large ticket office, travel agents, and currency exchanges booths. We joined the early bird queue at the ticket counter and bought our returned train tickets to Genoa and boarded the early train.

(Our luggage, minimalist travel)

(At Roma Termini, waiting for the train to Genoa)

(Time to board the train to Genoa)

(On the train, always on the move)

(A breathtaking view along the rail route to Genoa)

(A homeless man at one of the smaller stations)

When we arrived in Genoa, we were surprised that the town is quite busy and colorful. Our hotel, situated in the old town, was pre-booked earlier. After we checked-in and stored our luggage, we started our tour of Genoa on foot as the attractions are scattered around our hotel. The weather was calmly cool and the sky cloudy.

(Residence Hotel Del Principe)

(Stazioni Marittime, passenger terminal for cruises)

Genoa is a port city and the capital of northwest Italy's Liguria region. It is known for its central role in maritime trade over many centuries. In the old town stands the Romanesque Cathedral of San Lorenzo, with its black-and-white-striped facade and frescoed interior. Narrow lanes open onto monumental squares like Piazza de Ferrari, site of an iconic bronze fountain and Teatro Carlo Felice opera house.

(Genoa is the 6th largest city in Italy)

(Enjoying the busy traffic in the harbour)

(A leading Mediterranean cruise and ferry hub)

We visited the old port where we would spent time to visit the Aquarium, a Maritime Museum and walked around the piers and the boardwalks. The port is forever busy and full of cruise ships and super yachts. There are lots of little cafes and restaurants, benches to sit on and watch the world pass by. There is even a Pirate Ship and lots more to see and do.

(The Marina for the rich and famous)

(The pink building of Genoa Marina Plaza)

(The Gulf of Genoa in Ligurian Sea)

The Acquario di Genova was built on the occasion of the Expo ’92, a celebration of the fifth centenary of the discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus, with the intention of restructuring and enhancing an area full of history and traditions. It is located in the heart of Genoa’s historic centre, the Porto Antico, the old port. It is the biggest aquarium in Europe.

(Spending most of the day in the Aquarium)

(The largest aquarium in Genoa)

(A monster fish on display)

(A huge fish tank, the main attraction)

(The penguins in Genoa Aquarium)

(A drawing of one of the sea creatures)

(Taking a short rest to relax cramped feet)

(Fish and chips for lunch... yummy)

We did not have time to visit the interior of the Pirate Ship but managed to take pictures of the exterior. The Neptune is a ship replica of a 17th-century Spanish galleon designed by Naval Architect David Cannell. The ship was built in 1985 for Roman Polanski's film Pirates, where she portrayed the Spanish ship of the same name.

(Galleon Neptune in the Old Harbour)

(Intricate carvings decorating the Pirate Ship)

(Neptune, the God of the Sea)

(Red Indian street buskers at the square)

A short distance away we visited the Genoa Catholic Cathedral, the Cattedrale di San Lorenzo. It is dedicated to San Lorenzo, and is the seat of the Archbishop of Genoa. It is situated in the heart of Genoa’s old town. It is a soaring Gothic and Romanesque masterpiece in alternating bands of black and white marble, where the magnificent art and architecture serve as reminders of this former maritime republic’s historic wealth and power.

(Walking along the narrow street to the cathedral)

(Gothic and Romanesque Genoa main Cathedral)

(The black and white Cathedral of San Lorenzo)

(A cool weather at the Cathedral)

Piazza de Ferrari is the main square with a beautiful fountain surrounded with historic buildings, including the Palace of the Doges the Teatro Carlo Felice, which was destroyed during WWII and subsequently rebuilt. The seaside neighborhood of Boccadasse is vision of pink and yellow buildings that brighten up this lovely fishing village.

(Plaza de Ferrari Bronze Fountain)

(The main fountain is surrounded with historical buildings)

(The crowd around the fountain in the evening)

(We are trying to take a selfie)

The Teatro Carlo Felice is the principal opera house of Genoa, Italy, used for performances of opera, ballet, orchestral music, and recitals. It is located on the side of Piazza De Ferrari. Completely rebuilt and refurbished, Carlo Felice is a good example of theatrical architecture and interior design. One of few excellent opera houses in Italy.

(The principal opera house of Genoa)

(A Statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi in front of the theatre)

We made a brief visit to Christopher Columbus House, an 18th-century reconstruction of the house in which Christopher Columbus grew up. The house is located outside Genoa's 14th-century walls. During the Renaissance, the area became subject to intense building, mainly consisting of public housing. At this time, the house had two or maybe three stories, with a shop on the ground floor, and the front door to the left of the shop. The original house was most likely destroyed in the French Bombardment of Genoa in 1684. It was rebuilt in the early 18th century on the basis of the original ruins. Currently the building operates as a museum.

(Birth place of Christopher Columbus)

(Tourists visiting the museum)

(An attraction to local and foreign tourists)

(The remains of the original ruins)

Not far from Christopher Colombus house is the The Porta Soprana, one of the major medieval stone architecture. It was once the gateway for those who arrived in Genoa from the east. It dominated the hill of St. Andrew, which takes its name from the monastery demolished in the 19th century. The two towers framing the access to the Porta Soprana still bear two gravestones in Latin commemorating the event. The walls enclosed the three areas of the city: the castrum, the civitas and the burgus. The Porta Soprana is also known as the gate of St. Andrew due to the adjacent monastery, the Porta Aurea, and the Porta di Santa Fede.

(The gate of the ancient walls of Genoa)

(The so-called Barbarossa walls)

(A large portions of these walls remain intact)

(Taking a breather after a long walk)

Together with Piazza De Ferrari, Piazza della Vittoria is named in honour of Italy after the First World War and is considered one of the most important squares in the city centre. The hallmark feature of the square is the impressive triumphal arch, the Arco della Vittoria, a monument dedicated to the fallen of the First World War, built in the 1930s and decorated with statues and bas-reliefs by various artists, among them Eugenio Baroni. In the background of the piazza is the D'Oria, the staircase of the Unknown Soldier. On the sloping lawn between the two flights of stairs, Christopher Columbus's three caravels are depicted in the greenery.

(Genoa Arch at Piazza della Vittoria)

(In memory of Christopher Columbus)

Early morning the next day we took a hop-on hop-off bus to explore other parts of Genoa attractions. Situated on top of a hill is the Castello D’Albertis, home of captain Enrico Alberto D’Albertis. His castle testifies to the strong fascination that the distant worlds he had visited. At the entry of the 16th-century bastion, on which the castle was built, starts a second exhibition, where archaeological and ethnographic pieces are displayed.

(The Castello D’Albertis)

The Palazzo San Giorgio is a palace situated in the Piazza Caricamento. Stone lions, the emblem of Venice's patron St Mark were displayed as trophies on the facade. The palace was used for a time as a prison. Marco Polo was its most famous resident and it was there that he dictated his memoirs to Rustichello of Pisa. In the 15th century, the palace became the Bank of Saint George.

(A beautiful building with colorful frescos)

(Genoa Brignole Railway Station)

Palazzo Doria Spinola is another classic palace set out in the 18th century style with a number of art works by some of the worlds greatest painters. A stunning palace housing paintings, sculptures and other works of art. A must visit for any art lover.

(The Palazzo Doria Spinola)

(The statue of Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of Italy)

(The view from on top of the hill)

The next morning we packed our bags and got ready to check-out of the hotel. Earlier we booked train tickets from Genoa to Pisa and from Pisa to Rome. We planned to make a few hours transit in Pisa and visit the famous Leaning Tower.