Genoa overview

Arriving in Genoa can be like arriving in the middle of a drunken rollercoaster. Staircase footpaths and winding narrow streets crawl up the Ligurian hillside, where candy-coloured, shuttered buildings are squashed into the mountains. Dank alleyways evoke visions of Shakespearean family duels in the medieval old town, a complete contrast to the soaring glass and steel waterfront redevelopment. Here, mega-yachts and cruise liners battle with local fishing boats and ferries, transporting well-heeled tourists to large shopping streets. The combination of squalor and sophistication, old and new, reflects the duality of modern Genoa, where history buffs salivate and pedestrians wither. Thorough stretching of the calves is a necessity before exploring the streets, where the unique blend of past and present sees Laundromats and brothels stand side by side with marble churches and treasure-laden palaces.