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Ah, Rome … with its narrow alleys covered by ancient buildings, old monuments that have endured the test of time, and a enviable collection of churches So big that they seem to float just shy by the divine.
Few cities can compare, and it would undoubtedly be the perfect candidate for a culture out of culture-out-so-that-way not for the insane crowd that turns the eternal city into the ninth circle of Dantean Hell.
They gather around the Trevi fountain from twilight to sunrise, mix the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica and, more recently, even the once layered Trastevere is not safe.
We are Romanophiles ourselves, but We are giving the Italian capital a pass this year Until their crowds are solved. Instead, we go to the north, to a culturally charged city that should not get laurels yet, where mass tourism is still a secondary concern.
Oh, and have we already said it even has beaches?
Welcome to Genoa: The Bustling Capital of Liguria
The sixth largest city in Italy, with a population of more than 563,000, Genoa is a lively metropolis on the Ligurian Sea, historically known for its maritime heritage, well-preserved medieval core of Europe’s largest, and rich gastronomy.
That is already quite the summary, but don’t worry, we will dive into more details, starting with the Centro Storicowhat has much smaller crowds than those of Rome:
It is a complex labyrinth of narrow alleys (locally known as Caruggi In the Genovese dialect), strewn with small Piazzas, bordered by family businesses Trattoria’s and boutique shops, and richly decorated baroque churches.
Stretch from the Porto Antico area, or old port, in use since the Middle Ages, all the way to the hills that surround the city, it is one UNESCO World Heritage site, Including different Van Genoa’s must-see orientation points:
We are talking about the San Lorenzo Cathedral, with its striking black and white striped facade and for the history lovers who are there, the treasury would hold the Holy Grail.
Via Garibaldi, a pedestrian street covered with stately Renaissance buildings, such as Palazzo Rosso (Red Palace) and Palazzo Bianco (White Palace), who are home to paintings by Caravaggio, Rubens and other famous painters.
Piazza San Matteo is one Photo-Perfect square flanked by medieval buildings That once were owned by the once powerful Doria family of Genoa. There is even the Palazzo Ducale-JA, like the one in Venice-one 13th-century mansion where the Genovese doge used to live.
Much smaller crowds than Rome
Unlike the most popular tourist places in Italy, it is unlikely that you will encounter long waiting lines, or hind routes around the old Genoa:
Average, It receives around 2-3 million tourists per yearThe majority of which just continue on the way to Portofino, Cinque Terre and other Ligurian destinations.
In the meantime, Rome houses a much higher 15 million, average, no less than 20-25 million, including day trippers (no wonder they have introduced a ticket system), and Florence paths behind him with around 10 million.
Unnecessary to say that Genoa feels significantly less pressure compared to, even though it is an important transithub and a call for cruise ships in the Mediterranean Sea.
That said, Genoa is a big city, and The old city is just the tip of the iceberg.
Stately buildings and picturesque port areas
While you leave the narrow alleys and make your way to Piazza de Ferrari, you will be met with a monumental square bordered by Elegant Belle Époque buildings, one of which is Teatro Carlo Felice, Genoa’s historic opera house.
The center of the square, a modernist bronze fountain with a marble base, is another Genoese icon, but if you are looking for a real miracle of Engineering, then go next to the Montegalleto lift:
Connecting via Balbi, near the university, with Castelletto, A hilly district that is best known for its fairy tale castleIt is a unique hybrid lift that travels horizontally for the first time, just like a train, through a tunnel for about 300 meters before they finally go up a vertical 50.
There are countless other heritage lifts spread over Genoa and connect the lower city with the upper zones. The best part is that they are part of the public transport system, so your bus and metro tickets are valid!
Away from the center there is Boccadasse, a snapshot in life in Liguria While it mainly consisted of fishing villages.
If you have little time and you will not visit Cinque Terre, then you should definitely come to Boccasse for dinner: it has the same pastel -colored houses, a protected harbor with a pebble beach and an abundance of traditional eateries.
Scenic Pebbly beaches
Speaking of beaches, Genoa is known for its swimming spots, usually supported by the view of a postcard.
One of the most frequent, and easily accessible by bus from the city center, is Spiaggia di Vernazzola, just east of Boccadasse: it is Another cozy pebble brick stretchExcept that it has an even more local, quieter feeling.
Further to the east is Sturla a wider beach with a combination of sandy patches and rocks, but if you prefer the convenience of nearby beach bars and gelatow stores, go back to the west to Priaruggia, in the Residential Quarto Dei Millei district.
The good thing about Genoa is that it is a short train journey of several of the most iconic coastal institutions in Italy, in particular Portofino, Only 44 minutes away.
Portofino is a small port city (in) famous as a chic and luxurious destination with astonishing restaurant prices. Most people not Know that the coastal path between Portofino And the neighboring Santa Margherita is interspersed with peaceful, swim -friendly bays.
Some are private, under the supervision of boutique hotels, but most are free to visit. Make sure you are early to get a good place on one of the small beaches, or else you will be on the rocks.
Then there is Sestri Levanti, a quiet beach city with the traditional heat houses of Liguria, 29 minutes by regional train, and Camogli, an even shorter 19 minutes from the center of Genoa, famous for its half moon, dark-pebble beach and medieval castle.
How cheap is Genoa to visit?
If you have a strict budget, you will be happy to know that Genoa can be much more affordable than Rome and the like:
- To begin with, It’s less touristySo prices are usually moderate
- Genoa has a more ‘daily life’ feeling than the capital, which can sometimes feel like the playground of a tourist
- The costs of living are lower, from food to transport to cultural activities
Let’s look at the graph:
| Category | Genoa | Rome (and similar tourist cities) |
| Hotel (Middle range per night) | $ 70-120 | $ 120–200+ |
| Meals in restaurants in the middle of the range | $ 15–25 | $ 25–40+ |
| Ticket for public transport | $ 1.50–2 | $ 1.50–2.50 |
| Tourist attractions on average | $ 9–11 | $ 16-20 |
General, Genoa is 1.5 to 2 times cheaper than Rome.
Looking for other cheaper, less busy, equally exciting destinations in Italy to beat the crowd this summer? Have fun hunting those hidden gems here.
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This article originally appeared on Traveloffpath.com
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