GENOA SURPRISED ME!

Genoa, Italy
Aboard Regal Princess
Stateroom C512
Saturday, November 19, 2022
65F, sunny

It has been 55 years since I visited Genoa—that was the train stop where we changed trains before we entered France after several trips to Italy when I went to school in Aix-en-Provence.  The ultimate visit was when Friend Judy and I were meeting new friends from the U.S. Army’s Camp Darby and we did not know there were two train stations in Genoa.  I will save that story for another day, but Genoa, at that time, was not a good place for American college girls to be wandering around aimlessly by themselves.  

TK also visited this port many times when he was in the 6^th Fleet with the U.S. Navy.  He does not share many stories of those days.

 Anyway, I slept in all the way to 8 a.m. and we were off the ship, ready to explore another day.  I was amazed at the Cruise Terminal, Ponte dei Mille. This building was begun in 1914, but because of the Great War, work stopped. It was not finished until 1930.

 

Ponte dei Mille--a beautiful terminal

Genoa was first founded as a port by the Phoenicians 3,500 years ago. It is the largest port in Italy, in competition with Marseille and Barcelona in the Mediterranean Sea.  The population of Genoa is almost 600,000. This is definitely a metropolitan city!

 We walked about a mile along the port to get to the inner old city.  TK said that the port area had been transformed recently and there was a nice large walkway. After we passed the Genoa Aquarium and Maritime Museum, I easily spotted a large, beautiful galleon, the Neptune—she was a very photographic ship, just waiting for her picture to be taken.  The Neptune is a replica of a 17^th century Spanish galleon built in 1985 for Roman Polanski’s film, Pirates, where she portrayed the Spanish ship of the same name. It is wonderful that such a ship is being maintained.

Nauzario Sauro (S 518) was the lead boat of the Sauro-class of 

submarines in the Italian Navy, 1974-2002

now decommissioned and in the Genoa museum

sign for the Neptune

The galleon, Neptune

Closeup -- aft

Mast head of the Neptune

Closeup

I was very happy to see there were more hills to be climbed as we entered the main part of the old city.  The narrow streets, the wondrous shops, more churches, fountains, and plaza areas called our name. The old buildings along the narrow streets were quite tall and gave a cozy feel to the city atmosphere.  Old Genoa almost reminded me a little of Aix.  Tourists and residents bustled along. 

Belltower and cathedral under restoration

Another church

Piazza

Garibaldi Piazza

Streets of Genoa

Another street

It did not take me long to spot a small patisserie with sfogliatella—this is the 3^rd day in a row for this absolutely phenomenal pastry. Two American coffees, two sflogliatelles, and one cannoli later we continued our walk up the hills on winding streets and alleys.  We really did not do any shopping, we were just enjoying the many new sights—men and women’s clothing shops, toy shops, home goods shops, shoe shops, a fabric shop, antique shops, all interspersed with churches, piazzas, statues, and fountains. Another thing that was special in this area—no cars or bikes! 

Sflogliatelles and a cannoli

Need I explain?

sflogliatelles

TK with coffee and "breakfast"

More shops along the way:

Porzio

I love the clothing items on the facade!

A hat store!

Candies

And more pastry--cakes!

Pastries

Vegetables

TK liked this kind effort for dogs passing by

Sculptures from the past appear unexpectedly and frequently

(above the door)

Many stores advertised Black Friday

This one shortened it to Black Days

 

We found our way back to the port area nearby and found a restaurant that had pizza. Not having learned to share, I had a margherita pizza (tomato sauce and mozzarella) and TK had one with ham, tomato sauce, and mozzarella. We each only ate half, but the pizza was very good—that delicate tomato taste and mozzarella that was so fresh. 

Acquarium Restaurant / Pizzeria

Margharita Pizza and Pizza with ham and mozzarella

Closeup, but everyone knows what pizza looks like

Both were delicious! Hot out of the wood fired oven!

Acquarium Restaurant inside

Just a bit of a look at the port area

After lunch we walked back to the ship—a leisurely stroll.  We are so blessed to be able to explore Europe and walk easily.  This is what we should be doing!

Tomorrow, Corsica!!

TK's Takes: He said he has never seen nso many dogs being walked by their owners in a busy city. German Shepherd, boxers, pugs, Welsh terrier, Schnauzer, mutts, to name a few.  He also said he has never seen so many pharmacies!! (denoted by a neon green cross)

TK's steps:  14,000

Janie's steps: 14,735 / 12 flights of stairs.  I don't know how we had more today than Florence, but that is the count!

Aside to Friend Judy:  Genoa does have two train stations still today,. The main station is Genova Piazza Principe, which opened in 1860.  The other one is Stazione Brignole.  Now we know!!