Attractions in Genoa

San Siro is traditionally considered Genoa's oldest church, founded in the 4th century as the first cathedral before the seat was moved to San Lorenzo. The current building is a 16th–17th-century baroque reconstruction, but its dark, atmospheric interior evokes centuries of worship.

The Cathedral of San Lorenzo is Genoa's principal church, instantly recognisable by its dramatic Gothic facade of alternating black-and-white marble stripes. Inside, the vaulted nave leads to the Museo del Tesoro, a treasury housing the Sacro Catino — a green glass dish once believed to be the Holy Grail.

Piazza De Ferrari is Genoa's grand central square, dominated by a large circular bronze fountain surrounded by imposing 19th and early 20th-century buildings. It marks the boundary between the medieval Old Town and the 19th-century city, serving as the civic and cultural heart of Genoa.

The Abbazia di San Giuliano is a serene 11th-century Benedictine abbey in the Nervi neighbourhood, set among palm trees overlooking the Ligurian Sea. Its Romanesque cloister and modest church offer a peaceful contrast to the busier attractions in the city centre.

Via Garibaldi (formerly Strada Nuova) is a UNESCO World Heritage street created in the mid-16th century as a showcase for Genoa's wealthiest banking families. Just 250 metres long but lined with 13 magnificent Renaissance and Baroque palaces, it represents one of the finest concentrations of aristocratic architecture in Europe.

Teatro Carlo Felice is Genoa's principal opera house, named after King Carlo Felice of Sardinia who commissioned its construction. The original 1828 neoclassical building was largely destroyed in WWII bombings; the rebuilt version (1991) cleverly preserves the original colonnade facade while concealing a modern 2,000-seat auditorium behind it.

The Chiesa del Gesù (also known as Santi Ambrogio e Andrea) is Genoa's most lavishly decorated baroque church, famously housing two important paintings by Peter Paul Rubens. The interior is a dazzling explosion of gilded stucco, coloured marble, and trompe-l'oeil frescoes.

The Palazzo della Borsa is Genoa's former stock exchange, a striking early 20th-century building with an ornate Art Nouveau interior. Its 'Sala delle Grida' (trading hall) features elaborate painted ceilings and decorative ironwork, now used for exhibitions, conferences, and cultural events.

The Casa di Cristoforo Colombo is a small reconstructed house identified as the boyhood home of Christopher Columbus, standing beside the imposing twin towers of Porta Soprana. While the original building was destroyed in a 1684 French bombardment, the reconstruction occupies the documented site.

Palazzo Ducale was the seat of Genoa's doges for over 500 years, a monumental symbol of the Republic's political power. Today the restored palace serves as Genoa's premier cultural venue, hosting major art exhibitions, concerts, and literary events in its grand halls.

Porta Soprana (also known as Porta di Sant'Andrea) is Genoa's finest surviving medieval gate, its twin crenellated towers rising dramatically above the surrounding buildings. Built in 1155 as part of a major defensive wall extension, it marked the city's eastern entrance.

The Biosfera is a striking glass sphere designed by Renzo Piano, floating on the water of Porto Antico. Inside this transparent bubble, a tropical ecosystem of over 150 species of plants, butterflies, iguanas, and birds recreates a fragment of equatorial rainforest in the heart of Genoa's harbour.

The Acquario di Genova is the largest aquarium in Europe and second-largest in the world by number of animal species. Located at Porto Antico, it was designed by Renzo Piano for the 1992 Columbian Expo and showcases over 12,000 animals from 600 species across 70 tanks spanning all the world's oceans.