Genoa is a city that surprised me. Maritime republic and ruler of the Mediterranean, the Ligurian capital offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in the history, art and architecture that recall one of the most important periods of the city.
Visiting Genoa allows you to admire the elegant buildings and historic homes that recall its glorious past; get lost in the alleys and picturesque squares, enjoy the famous focaccia in a little place overlooking the sea.
Here are the places that absolutely must not be missed during your visit to Genoa on a weekend .

Garibaldi Street
A good starting point is via Garibaldi known as "Strada Nuova" or "Via Aurea", one of the most fascinating and important streets of the city, famous for its magnificent Renaissance buildings which testify to the prosperity and elegance of Genoa in the period of gold of the Maritime Republic.
If you want to enjoy the sumptuous atmosphere of these palaces, I recommend a visit to Palazzo Bianco, the most important art gallery in Liguria. Here you can admire a large collection of Italian, Dutch, Flemish and Spanish painters and some paintings by Tintoretto, Rubens and Canova.
Among loggias, courtyards and gardens you will arrive at Palazzo Rosso , a house museum where the works that the Brignole family collected for around two centuries are preserved.
The museum tour continues with Palazzo Tursi which houses the "Cannone", the famous violin by Paganini, a composer born in Genoa.
In addition to the buildings, along Via Garibaldi you can enjoy the unique atmosphere of this historic street, with its elegant porticoes and decorated facades.
As you walk along the street, you will also notice numerous shops, boutiques and cafes where you can take a break and enjoy a local delicacy.
Among these, I recommend the Profumo pastry shop, a historic and elegant place that will take you into a world apart. The soft and delicate colored furnishings of times gone by are accompanied by the scent of the ingredients of various products from the great Genoese pastry shops.
Staying in via Garibaldi you can also admire the Palazzi dei Rolli , the beautiful residences of the Genoese nobility, a UNESCO heritage site.
These palaces are made up of a series of historic buildings from the 16th century, known for having been included in the "rolli", i.e. official lists of noble buildings that could host illustrious people during the official visits of sovereigns or foreign ambassadors.
Their sumptuous facades and interiors with frescoes, stuccoes and luxury furnishings bear witness to the prosperity and elegance of the time, and many of them are today open to the public as museums or institutional headquarters.
And for a stay with all the comforts, I recommend a suite at Palazzo Durazzo , a noble residence in the heart of the historic centre, the most important of the Rolli, which once welcomed illustrious guests.
Once you have checked in and left your elegant and practical travel bags in one of the twelve suites with frescoes from the 18th century, you can be transported into a sophisticated culinary experience, dining at Hostaria Ducale, a splendid venue in the center of Genoa where you can taste dishes sought after in Ligurian cuisine.

Old Port of Genoa
During your three days in Genoa, you cannot miss the Porto Antico , a large square with numerous restaurants where you can taste the famous cheese focaccia, delicious red prawns or Genoese pesto.
Designed by Renzo Piano, this thousand-year-old port is the Mediterranean plaza where you can explore the Aquarium , which boasts the richest display of aquatic biodiversity in Europe.
Continue along the port and let yourself be won over by the Bigo , the futuristic lift that will allow you to enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the city,
Also at the ancient port, you can also explore the Galata Museo del Mare , an interactive place for an unprecedented maritime adventure. On board a submarine, you will be able to immerse yourself in the stories of sailors and discover the charm of sailors of the past.
For a tasty break between one visit and another, I recommend the Basilico Lounge Bar , a small modern place where you can enjoy an aperitif with homemade Genoese focaccia.

Boccadasse
Without leaving the sea, another stop on your weekend in Genoa is Boccadasse , one of the most romantic neighborhoods. With the colorful fishermen's houses, the small bay and the narrow cobbled streets, Boccadasse is a charming village that offers a unique and fascinating atmosphere.
Walking through the narrow streets, you will feel like you are in a place frozen in time, flooded with the salty scent of the ocean and the seductive aroma of freshly baked focaccia.
For a dinner on the beach of Boccadasse I recommend Creuza de Mä , a name inspired by the famous song by Fabrizio De Andrè. The place is wonderful, in a privileged position and you can taste typical Ligurian cuisine based on freshly caught fish.

Lantern
Among the many symbols that tell the history of Genoa, the Lanterna is one of the first to visit. It is an icon of great historical importance and a point of reference for the Genoese.
Located on the promontory of San Benigno, the Lanterna stands majestically with a 77 meter high tower and is one of the oldest lighthouses still in operation in the world.
You should know that the Lantern is equipped with a light that has guided sailors through the ages. Today it is possible to visit it, via an internal staircase, which leads up to the top where you have a spectacular panoramic view of the city of Genoa and the Ligurian coast.
Today, the Lanterna also houses the museum, where it is possible to immerse yourself in the history of the lighthouse and discover its importance in navigation and in the life of Genoa.

The historic villas
During your weekend in Genoa , you cannot miss the beautiful historic villas, evidence of the rich mercantile bourgeoisie that animated the city from 1920 onwards.
The most sumptuous is Villa del Principe , commissioned by Andrea Doria, who had it built to have a place of peace when returning from his countless travels. It is a fairytale residence, with lush gardens, gushing fountains and frescoes and furniture worthy of a royal palace. Villa Imperiale dates back to the 15th century and was commissioned by Lorenzo Cattaneo, merchant and Portuguese consul in Genoa who, in the same years , also built the family palace in the city.
Passed in the 17th century. to the Salvago family and then to the Imperiale family, from whom it takes its name, it was raised by one floor and expanded at the back with two lateral wings that define the current planivolumetric composition; the garden upstream was scenically arranged in 1909 with a monumental staircase and nymphaeum.
Among the splendid villas, Villa Durazzo Pallavicini is a magical place where nature, art and imagination come together in an unforgettable experience. Excellence in the field of historical-romantic gardens, in 2017 it was elected the most beautiful park in Italy, for its centuries-old trees, colorful flowers and picturesque lakes, hidden paths and romantic bridges.
Villa Luxoro is a house-museum conceived from the beginning as a precious container for the artistic collections acquired starting from the second half of the 19th century by the Luxoros, a Genoese family of passionate art collectors. Alongside the precious eighteenth-century furniture that furnishes the villa, the collection of silver, largely locally produced, is also very interesting.
And between one villa and another, during your weekend in Genoa, don't forget to come and visit us in the My Style Bags store in Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, n.9, to show you the new luxurious travel bags that can be customized with your initials.
Genoa is therefore an elegant tourist destination, rich in history and attractions and is a paradise for food lovers.
The perfect choice to spend 3 days of holiday between aperitifs overlooking the sea and historic residences, in an atmosphere of times gone by.