Genoa & its Museums
You will meet your guide at the port and begin your exploration of Genoa, the capital of Liguria region. The city is beautifully positioned on the Italian Riviera.
Genoa was 2004 European Culture Capital; money flowed into the port city made famous by Columbus and now it is a better place than ever to visit. Genoa has an interesting port area and a historic centre said to be the largest medieval quarter in Europe, with a wealth of churches, palaces, and museums.
Your guide will lead you through the streets of the city and will let you discover:
The early 13th-century San Lorenzo Cathedral with its black and white striped marble facade.
The carruggi, narrow alleys, interesting to wander around
Piazza de Ferrari, overlooked by a statue of Garibaldi in front of the grand facade of the Carlo Felice opera house
Gesù Church across the square, where locals come to siesta on hot summer afternoons, contains a mass of marble and gilt stucco and some fine Baroque paintings, including two works by Rubens.
The tour will also lead you to explore two of the beautiful museums of Genoa: Palazzo Rosso and Palazzo Bianco.
It’s difficult to miss the splendid white facade of Palazzo Bianco (White Palace) as you walk down Via Garibaldi, once one of Genoa’s most important streets. The building houses a fine collection of 17th-century art, with the Spanish and Flemish schools well represented.
The 17th-century Baroque palace of Palazzo Rosso (Red Palace) was named for the red stone used in its construction. It now contains, apart from several extravagantly frescoed suites, works by Titian, Veronese, Reni, and Van Dyck.
The Gems of Tigullio Gulf: Portofino and Santa Margherita
Meet your guide at the port of Genoa and depart to Santa Margherita Ligure by AC deluxe coach.
Once in Santa Margherita Ligure you will board a private motor boat for a short coastal cruise to Portofino.
Even back in Roman Times Portofino was called the world’s most charming port. And, in the 19th century it was called the perfect romantic hideaway.
Portofino is cosily tucked into the side of a small wooded promontory on the blue Mediterranean Sea and is blessed with the Italian Riviera’s sunny summer climate.
The colored houses overlooking the tiny marina are no longer inhabited by sailors and fishermen, but by celebrities.
You will start your walking tour together with your guide and once at the famous Piazzetta, the lovely square by the harbour lined with cafe and restaurant tables, he/she will introduce you to the charming town.
Up a series of steps, you get to the Church of St. George, a lookout point and probably as a site of religious significance, the spot goes back thousands of years. There are benches to sit on, and some great photo-opportunities looking back down over the harbour.
The walk heads on out to the tip of the promontory and the Faro (lighthouse). A little terrace provides a nice spot for a stop overlooking the turquoise Mediterranean, before you retrace your steps to Portofino.
Free time for individual lunch and shopping.
Board the private motor boat again and return to Santa Margherita Ligure where you will have some free time.
Santa Margherita Ligure is an beautiful, palm-laden small town inserted into an inlet, with many grand hotels, garden villas and views of the splendid bay.
You will enjoy a pleasant walking tour including the inside visit of the Church of Santa Margherita di Antiochia and some free time to have a coffee sitting in one of the many bars and cafeterias facing the sea promenade.
Return to Genoa afterwards.
Genoa City Tour
Transfer to Milan
The Aquarium of Genoa
Pesto making demo and Lunch
Milan Walking Tour
The Cinque Terre
