A 'vertical city' and Mediterranean port in northern Italy, Genoa was home to Christopher Columbus and is nowadays known as the most English city of the nation. You will be enraptured by the maze of narrow streets in the historic centre of Genoa as well as the traces of cool frescoes here. This is the second largest city in Italy and definitely worth visiting. There are imposing, refined palaces alongside humble houses. Many of the fine-looking churches have opulent, baroque architecture. To fall in love with the architecture alone at first sight is usual here with tourists.

The Medieval gates of Genoa are a rare survival of the city's golden age and open up today's scene of delights that the city displays to all tourists. The Piazza de Ferrari is where the Opera and the Palace of the Doges are. You may also like to visit the birthplace of Columbus, which is a popular tourists spot!

On the World Heritage List is inscribed one part of the old city of Genoa: the Strada Nuova or Via Garibaldi. The district was designed in the mid-16th century to accommodate some of the most eminent families of the city. A number of Mannerist palaces are situated here. You're allowed to enter their internal gardens and behold the frescoes in the great salons. Some of these buildings are now museums. Also nearby is the National Gallery of Palazzo Spinola, where you can learn about the habits and furnishings of these Genovese homes during the time they were inhabited. There is also a possibility that you will come across a haunted house or two in the same district!

The Museo d'Arte Orientale exhibits one of the largest collections of Oriental art in Europe. Besides the old city sights, Genoa has the second largest aquarium in the world, which is located in the Old Harbor (Porto Antico), and has been transformed into a mall. A trip to the historically-rich Genoa is unforgettable for the entire family and you have every reason to gather the whole clan here for an enlightening vacation!

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