Visitors to Italy are attracted to the major cities of Rome and Milano. Even though, these places have not acquired this status out of nothing, nonetheless, many other places around the Italian peninsula are worth exploring especially the port city of Genoa.
If you love being transported to the past while still being present in the moment, then look no further than Genoa. This city is the birthplace of the Italian explorer, Christopher Columbus.
Much of the world we know today is attributed back to his great exploring expeditions. Having said that, what should you expect when visiting Genoa.
Genoa, the 2004 European Capital of Culture
Back in 2004, the city proudly earned the title of the European Capital of Culture for the whole year. Up till this day, Genoa has presented a strong Pan-European connection, that dates back to the year 1005 AD.
The charm of the city lies in its geographical location between the Ligurian Sea and the beautiful Apennine Mountains. Many travel guide books label Genoa as the best spot to experience the “quintessential” Italy.
Genoa’s unique architecture gives it a special spot amid rustic and urbanized cities. It encapsulates the best of the ancient world, and evokes newly experienced feelings of joy, just by walking along its warm alleyways.
Genoa Proximity to Portofino and Porto Venere
Genoa is located very closely to two main touristic hubs of Portofino and Porto Venere. Daily trips head to and from these places by train. For the more scenery trips, cruises and ferries also provide multiple rides especially during the summer season.
This perhaps makes Genoa a stop over station to some people, but rest assured, they will be missing out if they use Genoa as a mere center to explore nearby destinations.
It’s no secret that the beauty of Portofino and Porto Venere, Camogli and Cinque Terre are out of this world, however that should never distract you from exploring Genoa, with all of the miniature details the city holds in its sleeves.
Many claim Genoa was likened to a Mediterranean New York at its heyday and much of that is still prominent in its skyline today.
The Rich Cuisine of the City
Focaccia is one of the most favorable specialities among Genoese. Tourists on the other hand seem to equally enjoy this fresh delicacy.
Generally speaking the cuisine of the Ligurian region, where Genoa belongs is characterized by its simple cooking methods and ingredients. Seafood plays an important role in the diet of the locals as well as the abundance of locally farmed vegetables and fruits.
As Genoa started as a sea farming harbour, many of the dishes were prepared to last during ship voyages. Namely the Pan Dolce fruit cakes, which served as a sweet treat for sea men.
Nowadays, the cake is popular especially in December, when Christmas is around the corner.
Genoa, La Superba
The beauty of Genoa is noticed internationally, it’s considered one of the most alluring UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The rich culture and architecture of the city are acquired since ancient times. As Genoa has a maritime history, it possessed a lot of the riches of the East, like the spice trade. This in turn helped Genoa to become a power house shaping the industrial triangle of Milano, Turin and Genoa combined.
The city is considered a rich site in terms of economic power and affluent history alike. On the other hand, being geographically located in northern Italy and not being secluded from the rest of the continent, makes Genoa an important port in the Mediterranean basin, bordering the wealthy European nations.
Many famous poets and writers based their lives and literature around Genoa. Most notably the famous Dutch poet and novelist Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer who wrote the famous piece of “La Superba” which is centered around Genoa.
Words sometimes fail to describe the sensation of charming places. Emotions felt is the synergy of many factors combined. The intense feeling of belonging to a particular place occurs few times in a person’s life journey.
Genoa is one of those lovely cities where you feel connected to a new dimension of your spirit, spanning centuries of history and miles of geography. In addition, Genoa helps you projecting into the future of becoming an integral part of a whole new place while it becomes part of you.
As words of wisdom about Italy say, “La famiglia è la patria del cuore. ” = “home (family) is where the heart belongs”….. there is no place more prevalent than Genoa, Italy.
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