Genoa,
designated European Capital of Culture in 2004,
is a splendid city just waiting to be discovered.
Its museums, villas, churches and ancient palaces
are a true treasure trove.
Once a powerful Maritime Republic,
for many centuries Genoa was the pulsating heart
of commerce in the Mediterranean Sea.
While the city still plays an important role
in the international shipping industry,
it has used its newfound surge of energy
to breathe new life into its artistic and cultural heritage.
Visiting Genoa
is like embarking on a fantastic journey into the past.

From Porto Antico, the old port area,
a walk through the narrow alleys,
or carruggi,
leads through Europe’s largest historic centre,
dating back to the Middle Ages.
The adventure continues along the splendid streets
of Renaissance Genoa,
with its magnificent churches, wealthy palaces
and museums, to 19th century
Genoa with its elegant, wide-open spaces,
now a shopping district.
The winding ways of the city always lead back
to the sea, with its beautiful promenade,
or climb up the hillsides,
where a series of old fortresses dots the landscape
overlooking the city.
Genoa's Aquarium offers a wonderful way
to experience the underwater world
and become acquainted with the extraordinary array
of species creatively displayed in giant tanks.