Our Road Trip Day 2 to Genoa
We awoke in the morning to see the new arrival in Savona, completely dwarfing the harbour, so glad it wasn’t there when we first came in!
Without much ado, we jumped in the car, this time heading to Genoa, finding an easy parking space near the harbour, our first site being an old galleon, the ball-shaped aquarium and their own version of the London Eye. The queues for both were already massive so, not wishing to stand in the sweltering heat, gave them both a miss.
Instead, we opted for a healthy breakfast in the shade before strolling through the old streets heading to the centre to take in the sites.
Genoa (Genova), is a port city and the capital of northwest Italy’s Liguria region. It’s known for its central role in maritime trade over many centuries, and really was a city to take in its sites, which include the dramatic Cathedral of San Lorenzo, built originally as a Romanesque basilica in the 1100’s, remodelled in Gothic style in 1307, and finished off with a Renaissance dome in 1557, the hub of Genoa, namely the Piazza De Ferrari with its splashing fountain surrounded by grand buildings, including the Teatro Carlo Felice, with the busiest streets radiating from it in all directions, Porta Soprana, (a gate in the city walls), built in 1155 and Casa di Colombo. Christopher Columbus spent his childhood in the much-restored stone house next to the beautiful little cloister of Saint Andrea, with its delicately carved columns and arches.
The city is full of life but the old streets were very dark and in places quite ominous, neither of us would have wanted to be walking around them after dark, but in the day, they portrayed what life would be like without the summer tourists.
Although having tourists around did help bring out the artists…. we have absolutely no idea how he did this, there really was nothing external supporting him!
Not ones for visiting museums normally, the 17th Century Palazzo Reale, looked to be the exception with its amazing architecture, garden, grand staircases; balconies, sumptuously decorated interior; and art collection, which includes several by Van Dyck, who lived and worked in Genoa for six years.
Having paid €12 euros each to enter, we soon felt rather ripped off as we wandered around the back, meant to be a photographers dream as far as architecture is concerned…
Still the garden and cobbled pathways were stunning…
As was the decor inside..
Then, with our stomachs rumbling again, we stopped for lunch and a glass of vino in a tiny piazza, then headed home for another peaceful night on board.
The next day was chores day, laundry and provisioning, to get ready to set sail once again, bypassing Genoa, and across to a safe anchorage near Santa Margherita.
7th July 2024
