Have you heard much about Genova (or Genoa in English)? If you look online, there are comments about it being a grimy, working city. We have driven past the city probably 100 times, but finally we had the opportunity to go there and check it out for ourselves. We were pleasantly surprised at what a great city it is. Definitely a destination. An old historic center with windy, narrow, cobblestone streets full of shops and restaurants. There are beautiful cathedrals. Gorgeous palaces. And of course the water-front with massive boats to drool over (even better than Monaco because there are restaurants right there so you can sit and admire the boats just a few feet from the boats!) Add to that a nice coastline to the East with a beautiful promenade in Nervi, and a nice ferry boat ride to Portofino. Lastly, as an American, you have to know that Cristopher Columbus is from Genoa and you can just imagine his thoughts as he looked over the sea and realized the world is not flat! Do stay at Palazzina B-Contemporary Studio. Great location right by the harbor, clean, with a small kitchen.
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| Christopher Columbus house just outside the main city entrance. We also attended church not far from here on Sunday morning. It was a 10 minute walk from our apartment. We saw the Michilini couple who served with us in Rome, and are now serving their second mission in the Milan mission with the specific assignment to work with the GANS(young single adults) in Genoa. |
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| The old gate at the city entrance |
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| The restaurant tables are this close to the boats. This particular night was a party on the dock. Oh, and we ate at Rossopomodoro every night. A new favorite restaurant. |
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| The Anita Garibaldi promenade in Nervi |
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| Portofino harbor. We took a ferry from Santa Margarita. |
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| There was a walking path in Portofino from the harbor to the lighthouse. On this path these guys were hauling huge rocks on their shoulders and backs for a renovation of one of the ritzy houses. I'm sure they were paid big bucks but I wondered if they were paid by the hour or by the amount of weight they carried. |
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| I got a kick out of this because obviously this hotel advertised parking available....but look how tight it was to get to that parking! Aargh! |
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| The Saturday that we were there in Genoa, they were holding Rolli Days. Basically they opened up all the palazzo/palaces on Garibaldi street for free entrance! It was very festive and fun |
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| One of those palaces where you have a hallway....just one of those Versailles hallways with statues and lights and frescoes. |
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| This was the Palazzo Reale, but our favorite was the Spinoli Palazzo. |
