Genoa from above

Easter is about color. As my Easter Egg for you, I’ll give you a colorful post this Easter Sunday. Enjoy some views of Genoa from above. Exactly one week ago The Significant Other and I had the chance to visit a Candlelight Concert on top of the Grattacielo Piacentini, the highest skyscraper in town. With the concert (film music by Ennio Morricone) came the opportunity to enjoy the splendid views from “La Superba”, as Genoa is affectionately known. Click below for more views of Genoa from above…

Designed by Marcello Piacentini, construction on the tower began in 1935 and finished in 1940. It has 31 floors, and contains office spaces. Its roof height is 108 m, and counting its spire, the full building height is 116 m. At the time of construction it was the tallest building in Europe, until 1952, when the Kotelnicheskaya Embankment was built in Moscow. The sky lounge “Terrazza di Colombo” is only accessible during events. After spending so many years in Genoa, it was also our first trip on top of the Grattacielo Piacentini. The weather was spectacular as well. It turned out to be the only sunny day of last week that we spent in our Home (South) at the Ligurian coast.

In the center of the above image, on top of the hill of Carignano, is the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta, built in 1549. The red building to the right is the German School of Genoa, where Big Girl started her first year of school back in 2004. The white building at the top left is the Genoa fairgrounds. Its Marina was the site of the finish of last year’s Around the World Ocean Race. At the Southern horizon, on one of the very rare super clear days, the Northern most tip of the island of Corsica can be seen.

Some of Genoa’s touristic highlights can be seen in the image above. Towering above all is the Porta Soprana (Upper Gate), the eastern entrance to the historic center of Genoa, built almost a thousand years ago. In the grove of olive trees are the remnants of St. Andrew Cloister, the oldest parts having been constructed in the 11th century as well. And to the right the Casa di Colombo, the house in which Christopher Columbus grew up in between approximately 1455 and 1470.

The Centro Storico of Genoa is the largest and best-preserved historic city center in Europe, characterized by a dense network of medieval streets that offer a deep dive into the rich tapestry of the city’s past. It extends around the Cathedral of San Lorenzo to the historic Porto Antico, which was created as early as the 5th century BC.

In the 16th/17th century, Genoa became the richest city in Europe not only thanks to the influential Genoese families Doria, Pallavicini and Spinola, but also due to its gold and silver trade, financing operations and shipbuilding. The Centro Storico is not just the heart of Genoa; it’s a living museum, where every alleyway, square, and building has a story to tell. It is also a recognized part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

Behind the tower of San Lorenzo Cathedral you can see the Porto Antico. Originally it served as Genoa’s main harbor, playing a crucial role in the city’s economic and maritime history. Over centuries, it was the heart of Genoa’s trade and commerce. However, by the mid-20th century, modern shipping and cargo handling needs surpassed the port’s capacity, leading to its gradual decline and the relocation of commercial port activities to newer, more suitable areas of the waterfront.

New life was breathed into Porto Antico with the preparations for the Genoa Expo ’92, commemorating 500 years since Christopher Columbus’ voyage to the Americas. Renzo Piano, Genoa’s world renowned contemporary architect, led the transformation of the dilapidated and underutilized area into a space that is enjoyed by locals and tourists likewise. While retaining the historic character of the port, new attractions were added like the Aquarium, the Biosphere glass sphere, and the Bigo panoramic lift, all visible in the photo above. Many bars and restaurants make Porto Antico our favorite place to hang out.

The view above towards from Grattacielo Piacentini across the Centro Storico and Porto Antico to the cruise ship is basically a 180 degree reversed view from what we can see from our little place located in a house visible above the smoke stack of the cruise ship.

I hope you did enjoy this tour of Genoa from above. Most photographs were taken with my Fuji X-T2 and the Fujinon 18-55mm 1:2.8-4. The panoramic shots I captured with my iPhone 14Pro. Post processing in Lightroom Classic.

Have a wonderful Easter Sunday

Marcus

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