Genoa Italy

My niece taught school in Genoa for two years. It’s definitely not as charming as many other options in Italy.

I spent three nights in the Italian Riviera (Camogli) earlier this year and did a day trip by train up to Genoa. Can't say I fell in love with it. It's kind of a sprawling city, ugly in places. There's also a charming old town quarter with narrow streets and interesting squares. It has a renowned aquarium (I didn't visit). Genoa certainly has its fans, though, but it doesn't seem to be a place that lands high on many lists. I personally wouldn't want to spend much time there. But it was worth at least a day trip.

Just your typical ugly port city with an Unesco site and the 3rd largest medieval historic district in Europe:

http://www.visitgenoa.it/en/strada%20nuova

I agree it's not for everybody, for sure it's not for those who visit the Cinque Terre villages and think they are real.

I wasn't aware that the Cinque Terre villages were fake - thanks for clearing that up!

You are welcome.

Cinque Terre villages are fake???? What am I missing in this post?

That is pronounced fah-que, I think that means quaint in Sardinian or some other local dialect, no?

If you decide to make an overnight stop in Genoa, I recommend the district of NERVI (Train station name: Genova Nervi) on the Eastern edge of the city.
It’s a XIX century upscale district with plenty of luxurious palaces, villas and huge public parks, including a botanical garden. Very safe and within minutes from the more chaotic city center.

I think he meant the Cinque Terre are now a sort of Disneyland. Not fake technically but kind of a tourist trap.

I would disagree that the Cinque Terre villages have become tourist traps. They are certainly very TOURISTY now and crowded, which isn't the same thing. They still retain their charm in my opinion; tourist traps in my view are places that have lost it. The trails themselves can feel like lines at Disneyland, though, I guess - I haven't hiked them in ten years but that's what I hear.

Thank you Darioalb for the good laugh!

5 fishermen's villages where nobody lives on fishing and everybody lives on foreign tourism.

It's the only national park where the Park Manager can't do his job.

The average age of the few left farmers that work on the terraces in the all province is over 60. In ten years they will all be from eastern Europe. Just like there are no more italians working in central Florence except for taxi drivers and only rich Italians live in central Rome.
Nothing is real in the Cinque Terre, it's just a tourist trap, but if you like it... enjoy it. There is nothing wrong in going to Disneyland, if you remember that the actor playing Mickey Mouse stops being nice and funny and starts a cigarette one second after the last tourist has left the park.

Real cities are to the 5 villages as a real animal is to a stuffed one.

Sorry to hear Florence and Rome are no longer real, either - two more places I can avoid! If only I could find the "real" Italy, LOL!

I have not been to Genoa, but on another forum this article was recently posted that talks about the statuary at one of the cemeteries there.

Go to Primavalle or Tor bella Monaca districts, far from central Rome, and you'll be in real Italy where non rich Italians actually live, send kids to school, work.

In real Rome there is no service of trash collection these days, the few garbage men not on holiday work in the center because "there are the tourists!".

In central Rome 1 house out of 10 is an illegal B&B, restaurants open for tourists at 7 pm and serve fettuccine Alfredo: the idea of it being "real" is ridiculous, but if you need it that's ok. Lol!

Tor Bella Monaca? Good Lord! There are places where “real” Romans live, before having to go to Tor Bella Monaca.
Even in California we have “real”places where “real”Americans live somewhere in between Beverly Hills and East Oakland.

I spent several days in Genoa a couple years ago and found it to be an interesting city. The Tourist Information office sells a wonderful audio guide walking tour, Genoa has exceptionally good focaccia, and a boat trip from the harbor provides wonderful views of the city. It is not as Tourist-oriented as some other Italian cities, but a visit does provide the opportunity to experience an Italian city unlike Rome, Florence, or Venice.

We also spent a few days in Genoa and enjoyed our stay very much. I wouldn't make it a destination on a first trip, but if you're in the area anyway, it has good sites and restaurants. Also, we found the residents to be very friendly and helpful. We stopped on our wat from Nice to Milan by train. But have you also considered Torino? We really enjoyed our visit there.

I will second Becky's recommendation for Torino. We stayed two nights in Torino and wished we could have stayed a few days longer during that trip.

Becky- could you please share the names of the restaurants you enjoyed?
Best,
Carolyn

http://www.ilmangione.it/ristoranti/genova/

The Genovesi are famous for being very stingy, so I am sure the locals will be able to suggest some good inexpensive restaurant.