Leaning towers, colosseums, and grand canals. This is typically what someone thinks about when dreaming about traveling to Italy. I traveled to Italy on two separate occasions before I ever really heard about Genoa. When I got the opportunity to live there for three months I didn’t quite know what to expect, but I was excited to see a new city in Italy.
Genoa reminds me of myself and my own personality. It took some time to warm up to, but once I got to know the city better I fell in love. The city is quiet and filled with more locals than tourists, so it has a much different feel to it than bigger cities such as Rome, Florence, and Venice. When I first got Genoa I heard a lot of negative things about it from several Italians. This left a negative impression in my mind and I thought there wouldn’t be much to do and I would get bored, but I was definitely wrong about that. It seemed like every day up until my last day I was finding a new and interesting place in the city. Vicoli, Boccadasse, and Passeggiata di Nervi were a few of my favorite spots to venture off to.
Walking through vicoli brings me back to what I envisioned Italy to be before I actually traveled there. It is an area of narrow passages and high buildings. There is laundry hanging from lines outside the windows. Plants are placed along the window sills, and there are small markets filled with fruits and veggies along the way. It is a great way to escape the busy and noisy parts of the city center. If you are interested in night life there are many bars and clubs throughout Vicoli and it is a very popular area for young people to hang out at during the night.
Bocaadasse was a place I visited very often. I love the water so this was a great place for me to relax and enjoy gelato (this is also where my favorite ice cream place was located). I was living in Genoa from the end of January until the end of April, so the weather wasn’t the greatest. There was a lot of rain, a lot of wind, and a lot of cold. So when the sun came out I took advantage of it by going to Boccadasse, eating some gelato, and taking a nap on the “beach” (the beaches in Italy are much different than the ones I am used to in southern California).
The Passeggiata di Nervi is a beautiful pathway along the sea. It is a great spot to stroll down in the morning or during sunset. There are also several different restaurants along the way where you can enjoy lunch or dinner with a great view. It is definitely worth it to take some time out of your day to walk along this beautiful pathway.
Just like other big Italian cities, Genoa is filled with history. Unfortunately, I did not take the time to learn it. Whoops! But I did enjoy looking at the old churches and buildings throughout the city. I am the type of person that is more interested in culture than history anyways, so I met a lot of people and I learned to live like an Italian. I went to so many dinners in people’s homes and the food was phenomenal. I can’t eat Italian food in America anymore because nothing compares to the authentic food I had in Italy. If you ever go to Genoa you have to try focaccia and pesto with pasta. These two foods are specialties in this city and it will not be the same when you try it in any city other than Genoa.
My favorite part about Genoa is its location. It is tucked away between the sea and hills giving you beautiful views from the high points in the city. Fortunately, the apartment I was living in was at the top of the hill so I got to see a beautiful sunset resting over the ocean every night. Genoa has many different train stations making it so easy to travel to other cities. I got to travel up and down the coast of the Italian Riviera and even made it to France on a one day trip (however, I suggest at least taking a weekend trip because that was the most exhausted I have ever been!). My time in Genoa started off slow, but thinking back to it I wish I could have stayed longer. The people were so kind, the views were amazing, and the food was SOOO delicious. Genoa, you stole my heart.
So when you are planning your big trip to Italy, don’t let Genoa slip from your thoughts. It may not stand out to you compared to the other major cities of Italy, but it will be worth your time.
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