Before my trip to Genova I have heard mixed opinions about this place. Some people said Genova is charming and beautiful while others claimed it is a terrible, dangerous place I shall avoid. I have choosen to go to Genova mainly of defiance - if someone says something is ugly, boring and not worth my time I feel unconsciously challenged to check it by myslef. So I did check it and that is what I have found out.
I discovered a city that is surprising, full of contradictions and udecided whether it wants to be the beauty or the beast. Somehow it reminded me a woman that have forgotten how beautiful she is. A woman with curves that she is hiding because someone said curves are not nice anymore. So she is hesitating to show all the assets she has.
Genova has in fact lots of them. It gave the world some famous people as Paganini, Columbus, Garibaldi and Mazzini. It used to be one of the Italian Sea Republics together with Venice, Pisa and Amafi. The past power and welfare can be seen while wandering the streets of the city: mosaic floors intead of a plain pavement, stylish city elevators (almost as beautiful as those in Lisbon) and a great number of beautiful buildings usually hidden in a tangle of narrow streets. Also the food can make you visit Genova as soon as possible: Ligurian speciality foccaccia, savory farinata and Genova best known pesto can be pretty addictive once you try them. World famous pesto alla genovese tastes in Genova like a piece of heaven - they use the special basil which quality is actually protected by law (DOP certificate, which means that the food is localy grown and with the use of traditional methods).
Yes, Genova is like a woman: independent, variable yet sometimes undecided. She is warm, curvy, smells good and can feed you with some simple but delicius food.
Below how Charles Dickens described Genova in his book "Pictures from Italy" in 1846:
"You can lose your way (what a comfort that is, when you are idle!)
twenty times a day, if you like; and turn up again, under the most
unexpected and surprising difficulties. It abounds in the strangest
contrasts; things that are picturesque, ugly, mean, magnificent,
delightful, and offensive, break upon the view at every turn.”
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| Genova, 2015 |
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| San Lorenzo, Genova 2015 |
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| Piazza Della Vittoria, Genova 2015 |
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| Genova, 2015 |
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| Streets of Genova |
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| Streets of Genova |
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| Streets of Genova |
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| Genova, 2015 |
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| Genova, Spignata Castelletto |
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| Genova, Piazza De Ferrari | |
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| Genova, Old Port |
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| Genova, 2015 |
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| Ligurian Basil, Mercato Orientale Genova |
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| Mercato Orientale, Genova |
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| Genova 2015 |
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