Genoa doesn’t perform for tourists.
This is a guide for everyone else.
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Things to do in Genoa: The complete guide (2026)
After a year living here, my honest, curated guide to the best things to do in Genoa, Italy — palaces, caruggi, food, views and day trips.
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9 Hidden gems of Genoa’s old town that most tourists miss
Genoa rarely makes it onto the standard Italian itinerary. Visitors pass through on their way to the Cinque Terre or the French Riviera, grab a focaccia, and move on. That’s their loss. The old city – a dense labyrinth of caruggi, the narrow medieval lanes that thread between towering palazzi – rewards those willing to … Read more
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Best Belvederes and Viewpoints in Genoa: My Top Picks
Discover the best viewpoints in Genoa. From the port to mountain forts and aristocratic belvederes, explore the city’s top scenic vistas.
Explore the monuments.
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San Lorenzo Cathedral, Genoa: A Complete Guide to the Duomo
Visit San Lorenzo Cathedral in Genoa: opening hours, the Holy Grail, the striped facade, plus the deep history and sculptures of the city’s Duomo.
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Santa Maria di Castello: Genoa’s Oldest Church
Perched on the hill that gave Genoa its first foothold, Santa Maria di Castello is one of the oldest churches in the city — and one of the most rewarding to visit. Tucked into the medieval fabric of the centro storico, it repays the effort of finding it with Romanesque architecture, Renaissance frescoes, and nearly … Read more
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Porta Soprana and the Barbarossa Walls of Genoa
Porta Soprana is the surviving gate of Genoa’s 12th-century Barbarossa walls. The story behind them, what to see today, and how to visit.
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Church of San Teodoro, a neogothic shell for old treasures
Discover the resilient history of Genoa’s Church of San Teodoro, from its 10th-century Romanesque roots to its dramatic 1870 rebirth.
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The abbey church of Santo Stefano
Discover the striped marble and medieval soul of Santo Stefano. Explore the Romanesque abbey where Christopher Columbus was baptized.
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Church of San Marco al Molo
Sitting next to the sea, San Marco al Molo has survived pirates and WWII bombings, and it still stands as a guardian of the Porto Antico.
