One of the tourist attractions in the Genoa port is the replica of the 17thC Spanish galleon, Neptune which was built for the Roman Polanski movie ‘Pirates’The rather large figurehead on the Neptune replicaThis morning we set off into the old part of Genoa by the port area
We find the magnificent Cattedrale di San LorenzoThe San Lorenzo Cathedral was constructed in the 1100’s however it has been found that an earlier cathedral dating back to the 6th Century AD originally stood here After a fire destroyed much of the church in 1296, the present quite amazing facade was completed a few years later in 1312The fabulous interior of the Cattedrale di San LorenzoThe famous Palazzo DucaleWe visit another church called ‘Chiesa del Gesù e dei Santi Ambrogio e Andrea’ The large, well photographed fountain of Piazza de FerrariA rather stunning backdrop for a small local marketOne of the amazing buildings in by Piazza FerrariMotor bikes are in their tens of thousands parked around the centre of Genoa
We head towards a popular old part of Genoa around Via Dante, which has numerous restaurants and cafesSo many narrow alleyways in this area – it is hard to believe this truck managed to pass throughThe ancient entrance gates to Genoa, called Porto Soprano by Via DanteWe stop to have some lunch in Cafe di Barbarossa in Salita del PrioneThis is a wonderful old area of Genoa with lots of ancient narrow streets
A great view of the ancient gates from Cafe di BarbarossaNearby we pass the house of famous explorer from Genoa, Christopher Columbus who was born in 1451
At Piazza Ferrari we buy some tickets for the Hop On Hop Off tourist bus to save our legs getting back to the boat and also so we can spend the following day hopping on and off the buses!!From the old buildings of Genoa by bus we pass some very modern ones!!
The wonderful old train station, Stazione Marittima by the portThe old buildings of the port by Strada Aldo MoroWe arrive back at the port with the Hop On Hop Off bus at stop no 1 at Piazza CaricamentoBusy port traffic in the evening as we head out for dinnerThe large square Piazza Caricamento, was created in the 1800’s as a loading square for the port however today it is a pedestrian only areaTonight we have dinner at a restaurant close to the old port called Vegia ZenaWe arrive at an empty looking restaurant at 8pm!! Fortunately the other room, where we were seated was full!!Ric orders a pleasant Montipulciano vino rossoMussels to shareWonderful local fresh lobster with spring vegetablesAmazing black ravioli filled with prawnsWe take a stroll around the port before returning to the Tangaroa
Leave a Reply