GENOVA
tourist and cultural center
The strategic location of our 4-star downtown hotel will allow you to easily reach the main tourist attractions
What to see in and around Genoa
Aquarium
The Aquarium of Genova is Italy’s largest aquarium and is located in Genova’s 16th-century Old Port.
The Aquarium was opened in 1992 on the occasion of the Colombiadi, or the Expo celebrating the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America. It has subsequently been expanded on several occasions. At the time of its opening it was the second largest Aquarium in the world.
The approximately 2-hour and 30-minute tour includes 70 pools to which are added the 4 open-air pools of the Cetacean Pavilion opened in the summer of 2013. The tanks house animals of 400 different species including fish, marine mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates in environments that replicate those native to the individual species.
Four large tanks allow animals to be observed from two different levels; they house manatees, sharks of different species, seals, and penguins, respectively. Thanks to the new Cetacean Pavilion, dolphins can be admired both from above, thanks to a large glass wall with an opening window, and from an underwater perspective thanks to the 15-meter-long glass tunnel and the large 20-meter-long acrylic.
After its inauguration, the facility was expanded a first time in 1998 using the spaces of a ship’s hull (named “Nave Italia”), which houses a large number of open tanks of tropical and Mediterranean environments dedicated to the theme of biodiversity. In one of them, visitors can dip their hands and touch stingrays directly. In this area there are not only marine species, but also rainforest or freshwater animals.
The Cetacean Pavilion, designed by architect Renzo Piano, was inaugurated on July 27, 2013. The new structure is a total of 23 meters high and houses four tanks with a total of 4800 cubic meters of water volume. The exhibition route is spread over two floors.
Palazzo Ducale
Among the most elegant and majestic architectures in downtown Genoa, it was for centuries the seat of the Doge of Genoa and gathers within its walls the entire history of the city. Restored a few decades ago, the palace is no longer just a historic building, but also a center of cultural initiatives, educational activities and social events.
Porto Antico
Genoa’s Old Port is one of the city’s most characteristic places and was restored in 1992 by architect Renzo Piano. The complex includes: the Ponte Spinola, the Magazzini del Cotone, the Bigo panoramic elevator, the Neptune Galleon, Palazzo San Giorgio, the Darsena, as well as bars and restaurants.
The historic center
The historic center is the core of the old city and consists of a maze of alleys, called carrugi, among ancient churches, narrow arcades and fascinating historic buildings.
Rolli
The Rolli constitute the complex of the city’s most prestigious palaces located among the streets of the historic center. It includes the buildings on Via Garibaldi, Via Balbi, Via Lomellini and Via Cairoli. Since 2006, most of these buildings have been recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
LANTERNA
The harbor lighthouse, now called the “Lanterna,” is the symbol of the city of Genoa and can be reached by a walk through the ancient fortifications.
Cimitero Staglieno
Staglieno Monumental Cemetery is one of the most important in Europe. Opened in the mid-nineteenth century, it is not only a sacred and memorial site, but a true open-air museum. Different styles, from Neoclassicism to Symbolism to Art Nouveau, combine harmoniously in extraordinary sculptural and architectural works.
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