Family Travel

Millevele is the annual yacht race held in the Porto Antico Bay.  Bring your camera to capture this spectacular race!

Mediterranean Music Festival, June – July 2008

Porto Antico and the medieval quarter of Genoa set the stage for the Mediterranean Music Festival.  Enjoy artists, parades, exhibits, and cultural events from artists from around the world!

Goa Boa Festival, July 2008

Porto Antico is the host of this year’s Goa Boa Festival.  Enjoy the festive atmosphere and international music artists at Genoa’s contemporary venue.

Aquarium of Genoa (Acquario di Genova)

Your children will be fascinated by the Aquarium of Genoa, the largest aquarium in Europe.  The ship-like structure contains more than 50 aquatic displays, including coral reefs and a tropical rainforest.  There is even a small petting pool!

Cathedral of S. Lorenzo

The Cathedral of S. Lorenzo symbolizes the city’s faith and opulence. Buildings of great religious and civic value surround it.  The cathedral has experienced architectural transformations throughout time, and its black and white stripes, Gothic carvings, and stone lions will amaze you.  The original structure was Romanesque, and it underwent a radical conversion to Gothic style during the thirteenth century.  The guided tour will show you a bowl that is said to have been used at the Last Supper, relics of John the Baptist, and other ancient religious treasures.

Galleria di Pallazzo Bianco (White Palace)

Galleria di Pallazzo Bianco is one of Genoa’s finest palaces.  The structure is built of white stone and contains portraits of the affluent, including the “Portrait of a Lady” by Lucas Cranach the Elder.

Galleria di Pallazzo Rosso (Red Palace)

Enjoy exploring this 17th century palace which contains two stories of galleries of art and gorgeous frescoes.  Portraits and fine pieces by Van Dyck, Bernardo Strozzi, Gudio Reni, and many others adorn the interior of this red stone palace.

Museo di Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace)

The Royal Palace is an elaborate display of stuccowork and frescoes.  You will marvel at the extravagant décor and as well as the ballroom, throne room, and hall of mirrors. 

National Gallery of Palazzo Spinola (Galleria Nazionale di Palazzo Spinola)

The National Gallery of Palazzo Spinola treasures include an important collection of paintings by noteworthy Genoese artists, such as Van Dyck’s “Portrait of a Child” and Antonello da Messina’s
“Ecce Homo.”  Located in Piazza Pellicceria, the heart of the city’s historic center, it became a National Gallery in 1959 when it was donated by the Marquees Spinola to the Italian State.

Palazzo Ducale

The Palazzo Ducale is located on Genoa’s most elegant square and is the cultural center of the city.  It’s construction dates back to the Republican Period.  Today, Palazzo Ducale offers a variety of art exhibitions and activities.  It’s bookshop, jazz museum, poetry room, and great café restaurant provides a variety of activities to please every member of your family.

Palzzo St. Giorgio

The Palzzo St. Giorgio was the first bank in the world.  It has been the headquarters of the Port Authority since 1904.  Built in 1260, the structure was transformed several times and hosts a variety of architectural styles.  It was perfectly restored in recent years.  

St. Augustine Museum of Liquurian Architecture and Sculpture (Sant’Agostino- Museo di Architettur e Scultura Liquire)

This 13th-century monastery and church now houses a fascinating collection of architectural relics and sculpture. Explore the grassy gardens and interior, in which you will find an eclectic collection of Roman columns and ancient crypt panels.

St. Matteo’s Church

St. Matteo’s Church is located in the center of the city.  Built in 1125 as a chapel, the structure has experienced many transformations over the century.  In 1278, the church was totally demolished and rebuilt in Gothic Style.