Genova

Genova

IT
Population586,655
Genoa ( JEN-oh-ə; Italian: Genova [ˈdʒɛːnova] ; Ligurian: Zêna [ˈzeːna]) is a city in and the capital of the Italian region of Liguria, and the sixth-largest city in Italy. As of 2025, 563,947 people live within the city's administrative limits. While its metropolitan city has 818,651 inhabitants, more than 1.5 million people live in the wider metropolitan area stretching along the Italian Riviera. On the Gulf of Genoa in the Ligurian Sea, Genoa has historically been one of the most important ports on the Mediterranean: it is the busiest city in Italy and in the Mediterranean Sea and twelfth-busiest in the European Union. Genoa was the capital of one of the most powerful maritime republics for over seven centuries, from the 11th century to 1797. Particularly from the 12th century to the 15th century, the city played a leading role in the history of commerce and trade in Europe, becoming one of the largest naval powers of the continent and considered among the wealthiest cities in the world. It was also nicknamed la Superba ("the proud one") by Petrarch due to its glories on the seas and impressive landmarks. The city has hosted massive shipyards and steelworks since the 19th century, and its solid financial sector dates back to the Middle Ages. The Bank of Saint George, founded in 1407, is the oldest known state deposit bank in the world and has played an important role in the city's prosperity since the middle of the 15th century. The historical centre, also known as old town, of Genoa is one of the largest and most-densely populated in Europe. Part of it was also inscribed on the World Heritage List (UNESCO) in 2006 as Genoa: Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli. Genoa's historical city centre is also known for its narrow lanes and streets that the locals call "caruggi". Genoa is also home to the University of Genoa, which has a history going back to the 15th century, when it was known as Genuense Athenaeum. The city's rich cultural history in art, music and cuisine allowed it to become the 2004 European Capital of Culture. It is the birthplace of Guglielmo Embriaco, Christopher Columbus, Andrea Doria, Niccolò Paganini, Giuseppe Mazzini, Renzo Piano and Grimaldo Canella, founder of the House of Grimaldi, among others. Genoa, which forms the southern corner of the Milan-Turin-Genoa industrial triangle of Northwest Italy, is one of the country's major economic centres. A number of leading Italian companies are based in the city, including Fincantieri, Leonardo, Ansaldo Energia, Ansaldo STS, Erg, Piaggio Aerospace, Mediterranean Shipping Company and Costa Cruises.

Places to Explore

Curated experiences in Genova

Lanterna di Genova

Lanterna di Genova

The Lighthouse of Genoa (Italian: Lanterna di Genova), known as La Lanterna, is the main lighthouse serving the Port of …

Museo Diocesano

Museo Diocesano

The Diocesan museum of Genoa is located in Genova in the region of Liguria. It is found inside the old …

Palazzo Ducale

Palazzo Ducale

The Doge's Palace (Italian: Palazzo Ducale) is a historical building in Genoa, northwest Italy. Once the home of the doges …

Museo Palazzo Reale di Genova

Museo Palazzo Reale di Genova

The Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace) or Palazzo Stefano Balbi is a major palace in Genoa.

Palazzo San Giorgio

Palazzo San Giorgio

The Palazzo San Giorgio or Palace of St. George (also known as the Palazzo delle Compere di San Giorgio) is …

Palazzo Rosso

Palazzo Rosso

The Palazzo Brignole Sale or Palazzo Rosso is a house museum located in Via Garibaldi, in the historical center of …

Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Giacomo Doria

Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Giacomo Doria

The Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Giacomo Doria is a natural history museum in Genoa, northern Italy. It is named …

Villa Gruber De Mari

Villa Gruber De Mari

Villa Gruber De Mari was built by the noble Genoese family De Mari in the second half of the 16th …

Torre degli Embriaci

Torre degli Embriaci

The Torre Embriaci, also called Torre degli Embriaci, located in the oldest area of Genoa, where the Castello o Castrum …

Magazzini dell'Abbondanza

Magazzini dell'Abbondanza

Galata Museo del Mare

Galata Museo del Mare

The Galata - Museo del mare is a maritime museum in the Italian city of Genoa. It is the largest …

Casa di Cristoforo Colombo

Casa di Cristoforo Colombo

The Christopher Columbus House in Genoa, Italy, is an 18th-century reconstruction of the house in which Christopher Columbus grew up.

Porta Soprana

Porta Soprana

Ex stazione ferroviaria di Genova Sant'Ilario

Ex stazione ferroviaria di Genova Sant'Ilario

Collezione Wolfson

Collezione Wolfson

Galeone Neptune

Galeone Neptune

Neptune is a ship replica of a fictional 17th-century galleon designed by naval architect David Cannell. The ship was built …

Villa Durazzo Bombrini

Villa Durazzo Bombrini

Museo d'arte orientale Edoardo Chiossone

Museo d'arte orientale Edoardo Chiossone

The Edoardo Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art in Genoa, Italy is an important collection of Asian art, one of the …

Sottomarino Nazario Sauro

Sottomarino Nazario Sauro

Nazario Sauro (S 518) was the lead boat of the Sauro-class submarines of the Italian Navy.

Chiesa Santissima Annunziata della Costa

Chiesa Santissima Annunziata della Costa

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