Bonds Adventures: Genoa, Italy

Genoa, Genova to northern Italians, is the largest seaport in Italy. Our one day visit was slightly marred by the overcast and drizzly weather that existed. The pictures below show this coastal weather. This was our first experience using the “hop on hop off” tour buses. These are a great way to get a taste of the flavor of a city if time is limited (like ours). The narration is well done and the routes visit just about all major sites. The weather here must be regularly misty since the busses all had clear canopies on the top deck.

While we probably learned in school that Columbus was from Italy, in this city we are reminded that he was born in Genoa; and don’t forget that. There are statues, streets, piazzas, and buildings named for him. Christopher Columbus was indeed born in Genoa, Italy.

Genoa also claims to be the origin of jeans. Legend has it that the French word for Genoa is Genes and since the tough denim fabric from which jeans is made originated in Genoa, the resulting clothing evolved in to that which we label as jeans.

Because it is a seaport city the waterfront is an important part of the culture and wealth of Genoa. Cruise ships are a regular visitor as are freighters loaded with destined not only for Italy but neighboring countries as well. The harbor has undergone renovation and now includes more tourist areas than it did a few years back. The walk along the dock are offers open air shops, art in public areas, play areas for kids, restaurants and a large museum and aquarium.

For food enthusiasts, Genoa offers a couple of gustatory delights, Focaccia bread and Anchovies. I am not sure if it is the salt air or the flour or the yeast that makes Genovessian Focaccia bread so good. Its reputation as the Primo Focacciia stretches to Milan and beyond. As for the anchovies, they are available any and every way imaginable, fried, marinated, salted, whole, filleted, in and on food dishes, anchovies on anchovies. I think the only way not seen was raw, but I suspect if we had looked that was available.

Enjoy the photos below.

America's influence is spread far and wide

This bio-sphere is adjacent to the aquarium

The round building is the old Borse or central exchange. it originally was where trade deals were made and evolved into holding the Italian stock exchange before electronics took their toll.

most businesses have roll up doors for security and their use as advert boards is not under utilized as can be seen from this tattoo parlor. I believe this is one of those businesses that is open when it is and closed when it is not.

one of the castle found in just about every Italian city

Birth place of Christopher Columbus -- yeah, really!

delightful street musician who was actually good at playing her accordian

These saintly corner icons were on many streets. The Catholic influence is
omnipresent.

On the trip to Genoa we passed several towns and villages like this

street vendor for focaccia offering several types but all priced the same.

with land at a premium balconies and terraces become the gardens of Italian towns

close up of the original signage for the Borsa exchange

the commercial seaport of Genoa

one of the giant cruise ships that visit Genoa from the Mediterranean Sea

The Duomo of Geneva. Unique for its two toned marble entrance.

Genoa train station.

This is Hugo an art in public places made from recycled materials to encourage local Italians to recycle.

typical village on the route to Genoa. the tall tower is the bell tower for the church.

laundry is hung to dry wherever possible.

central piazza in Genoa is basically a parking lot

Large hotel at seaport. I can picture this as the THE place for visitors to stay when visiting Genoa in other times.

newer apartments directly across from the port area.

courtyard for the Musio Genova. Museums are respected and visited.

some streets are accessed via large arches but when through the street is actually narrow, sometimes very narrow.

This is claimed to be the oldest lighthouse in continuous operation in the world. "Lanterna" dates from around 1100 a.d. and has been the beacon for the port through out its history. Renovated several tiems as technology advanced this has been in continuous operation.

Genoa's government building

The grey structure is the modern aquarium.

Genoa can handle large commercial container ships at the modern port facility.

recycle bins are spread around the city to facilitate easy separation of waste. technology and its implementation are ready for humans to catch up. these jsut seem to permit four places to dump what ever. Good idea, but ...

entrance to the rather tiny restaurant where we ate lunch. the menu was hand written on a chalk board that circulated from table to table. decide quickly and waiter would take to next table. .

Interior of restaurant. we arrived at about 1:00 and were told it would require reservations for lunch. As we walked out the owner apologized and seated us immediately. within a few minutes there was a line out the door.

Side street on which our restaurant was located. this was off the main road, down an alley, onto another street and finally onto this dead end. Reviews were good and they were true. Excellent food and good service.