Genoa: gate of the Mediterranean
by samp4life
Genoa is proud and shy and doesn't yield to everybody, to people who pass by in hurry heading for some faraway places.
Genoa reveals herself little by little, and she looks like woman you love more and more.
Genoa puts a spell on her visitors forever. Genoa's beauty lies in her magic old port, heart of the town, open gate to overseas worlds, to the Mediterranean sea that has always been a link between different people, a cultural crossroads of ideas, religious beliefs, languages, goods.
Genoa's beauty lies in the hills bowing around her bay like an amphitheatre, in her vertical cityscape, in her luxurious palaces, in the alleys of the medieval city swarming with life, where past and present meet.
Genoa's beauty lies in her irregular shape, in her stunning 34 kilometres lenght from East to West, in her outskirts that still retain their distinctive character.
Genoa's beauty lies in her sunny Gulf and in her Rivieras, a land of light and winds, a mimosa yellow, tangerine orange, oleander red, grey-green olive land. From Foce to Capolungo there is a string of promenades lined with orange trees and palms. The sea is always clear and from May to October sunbathes crowd the beaches, where even in winter you can find people looking for a peaceful and sunny corner.
Corso Italia is "the promenade", with is restaurants, discos and a large pavement to walk, run or skate on.
At Nervi the Passeggiata Anita Garibaldi runs along the cliff and links the beautiful parks of Villas Grimaldi, Serra and Fassio that children and lovers hold dearest.
Porta dei Vacca
by Sarita76
Porta dei Vacca is located in the south-western part of Via Prè, near the church of San Sista. This gate was built between 1155-1159 to defend the medieval centre from enemies. Its previous name was "Porta di Santa Fede.
Only after the 13th century the gate was called "dei Vacca" beacuse of the name of a family living in that neighbourhood.
Porta dei Vacca is very similar to Porta Soprana which is located in the opposite direction.
Porta dei Vacca was restored in 1960-1961. This restoration was limited to the tower facing the sea; the other tower was restored by G.B.Pellegrini in 1782 and forms a part of the nearby Serra Palace.
Monument to Christopher Columbus
by Mikebond
This monument located few metres far from the entrance/exit of the Piazza Principe railway station commemorates Genova's most known citizen: Cristoforo Colombo (I know that other cities and countries claim he wasn't born in Genova, but we Italians don't believe them...).
A nationwide competition was held in 1845 to build a monument to Columbus. Michele Canzio was the author of the winning project, of whose construction eight sculpturs were charged.
The first stone was laid on 27 September 1846, but the monument wasn't inaugurated before 1862.
The main statue was to be sculptured by Lorenzo Bartolini, who was replaced after his death in 1850.
The four characters at the vertices of the statue represent Navigation, Religion, Prudence and Force.
360° panorama images from the harbour
by PanoViews
Working in the harbour and beeing a photographer I occasionally take 360° panorama pictures inside the commercial ports from yachts and various ships. Since it's quite difficult for tourists to get, for example, on top of the crane of a containership, you can browse these panoramic pictures on our website www.panoviews.com (since they are working fullscreen in quicktime).
From the airport
by bonio
From Cristoforo Colombo airport bus #100 runs to Stazione Pricipe every 1/2 hour, it costs just €2.07 and takes around 25 mins - good value. Buy the ticket from the driver and don't forget to validate it in the yellow box.
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Stazione Marittima
the port from view point
Maria
clownfish
