Sometimes called Belvedere Montaldo, this is the best picture-postcard view of Genoa to be had. This extraordinary vantage point 80 meters above ground is situated in the elegant Castelletto area. From this ruin of the "castelletto" which was demolished in the middle of the last century one can have a view over the rooftops, the bell towers, the hanging gardens, the old port and the Lanterna. The best way to reach it is via the public lift in piazza Portale, which was described as the best route "verso il Paradiso" - to heaven- by the poet G. Caproni. The lift's terminal is an elegant Art-Nouveau tower, which is one of the loveliest examples of this style in the city. It is a little known fact that the old reservoirs, which collected the water deriving from the ancient aqueduct crossing the Valbisagno, can be found underneath this ruin.
Located on the edges of the old city, this is historically the first large square to have been built in Genoa, in the period between the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth century. For the citizens, it represents the real city center, where you meet to go shopping, to have a drink, to attend civic events, or to take a quick dip in the bronze fountain to take the edge off the summer heat, or to celebrate sporting triumphs. Buildings which face onto the square include the Palazzo Ducale with its frescoed facade, the Teatro Carlo Felice, the Palazzo dell'Accademia, the Palazzo della Nuova Borsa and the Via XX Settembre, main artery of the city for both traffic and pedestrians, also leads off the square.
Genoa was Christopher Columbus' hometown, and it maintained a reputation as a major port for those traveling across the seas and to the New World. Housed in one of the oldest buildings that still survives from the Genoa Republic, the Galata Museo del Mare focuses primarily on the theme of the sea voyage and examines the methods of transportation and life of sailors aboard historic vessels. Right next to Genoa's aquarium and overlooking the sea, Galata is spread out on four levels and in more than twenty rooms.
Palazzo Bianco was built in the first part of the 16th century by the Grimaldi noble family on the Strada Nuova, now called Via Garibaldi. It was then given to Brignole Sale who gave it a sumptuous appearance. Finally the building was donated to the Comune of the Duchess of Galliera. It was intended that it should become a civic museum. After post-war restoration, the paintings were displayed according to their period and painting school which they came to be knows as Galleria di Palazzo Bianco. There is a significant amount of works by the Flemish and Dutch masters and some important Italian artists. The Spanish school is represented by some paintings by Murillo and Zurbaran.
Built between 1826 and 1831, designed by the architect Carlo Barabino, this theater is an example of traditional Italian horseshoe-shaped development. It has a capacity of 2,000. It was badly damaged by bombing in the Second World War, and almost completely rebuilt at the beginning of the 1990's by the architects I. Gardella and A. Rossi. The original neo-classical features of the pronaus and the portico were incorporated into the new building, whose imposing triangular tower hides a sophisticated scenic mechanism which places this theatre among the most advanced in Italy.
The Balbi family built a royal residence in the 17th century. Later, it was transformed into a baroque style structure. It is a well decorated palace featuring beautiful terrace, courtyard and gardens with a variety of exclusive plants. Today, the building is considered to be an archaeological site and a national historic museum.
The Aveto Natural Regional Park is a fairly recent national park that was established in order to preserve the rich flora and fauna of the Ligurian Apennines. It is composed of high mountains, rocks, quarries, sweeping valleys and grasslands. Beech, chestnut, hazelnut and olive are the primary trees that occur here. There are natural lakes interspersed with the peaks that make for scenic picnic spots. Many trails have been marked for outdoor-enthusiasts looking to explore the area.
This castle was built by the Florentine architect G. Coppode' between 1896 and 1904 for the Scottish insurance broker E. Mackenzie. Well-built and picturesque, its towers, trenches, draw bridges, mosaics, pictures and elegant decoration in wrought iron all make it an eclectic work of art. It is a mixture of past styles such as medieval, early Tuscan Renaissance as well as pure Art Nouveau. After being abandoned in 1986 the castle passed into the hands of the American Mitchell Wolfson Jr, who took on its restoration to house the Italian headquarters for the Wolfsonian Foundation, a rich collection of over 7000 works of art dating from 1885 till 1945. A lot of attention is given to the applied arts as well as architecture. Visits by appointment only.
Built in 1956 as an experimental opera house and cultural center, it has had a history of promoting emerging talents. In 2003, it was recognized by the state as a historical landmark.
Raindogs House opened in 2007 and is a popular spot among music enthusiasts for their concerts. They host at least three live performances a week and offer drinks and tasty tidbits as well. It is also used for poetry slams, seminars, book presentations and other artistic events.
Located in the eastern part of the city of Genoa, Albaro is a small neighborhood, perched on a hill-top, that contains many beautiful historic structures. It used to be the summer retreat of the wealthy and therefore has many villas that exist to this day. Notable among them are the Villa Cambiaso, Villa Bagnarello (the residence of Charles Dickens,) and the Villa Saluzzo Mongiardino which used to be the home of Lord Byron for a few years.