Around Europe in Twenty Days- Genoa, the beautiful port

( The beautiful Liguarian coastline of Genoa)

The hangover of the previous evening was yet to subside when, I woke up with a start to commence another journey. We headed to the Marseilles St Charles station. We boarded a train for Nice which was fairly crowded. The ride along the Cote de Azur is magnificent. The train keeps kissing the Mediterranean shores and the beautiful cities that lie ensconced.

( Sun kissed beaches of Genoa)

Miles of clean beaches and small villages dot the entire route. One cannot miss the beauty of places like Antibes, Cannes and Monte Carlo as the neck gets tired of constantly being stretched, not to miss anything lest you blink.

( A discotheque like Monte Carlo Station enroute)

Monte Carlo station resembles a huge discotheque with glittering neon lights in the dark backdrop. I pledged that I will make yet another trip just to admire the beauty of the French Rivera sometime soon. The train reached Nice where another train had just rolled into the adjacent platform. We boarded the train that would take us to Ventimiglia, a town bordering Italy. The journey from here onwards was in the Italian Rivera which is a picture postcard setting. The small hamlets and villages with swaying palms and azure sky and the sea are appealing beyond words. It is no surprise that many a well-known creative writers , philosophers and actors like Reuben, Van Dyck and others chose this haven as their abode. Around 3 PM the train snaked into Genoa Brignole station. Genoa has a number of rail stations which got me confused before alighting at the right one. Genoa is a port city and is the capital of Liguria region. It has a long maritime history and has been an important coastal industrial town, besides being the birth place of Christopher Columbus.

(Piazza De Ferrari in Genoa)

The place where we had our booking for the night was not very far from the station. The hostess of the apartment kept talking to us in Italian and we struggled to converse but then her hospitality took care of any barrier of the language. The town had some very old buildings but very well preserved. Almost every building has statues and carvings which add to the beauty. The market place was bustling with activity. Genoa got its name from the god Janus that has two faces and the city too has this feature, one looking towards the sea and another at the mountains.it was difficult to resist the sight of juicy strawberries so I picked up a small box.

( via Garibaldi)

Next morning the first thing we did was to get a ‘Genoa Pass’ for 24 hours that costs as low as Euro 4.50 for 24 hours and gives the liberty to travel almost every mode of transport. To get a sense of history which is entwined with the city a walk along via Garibaldi and Piazza de Ferrari, the city’s main square is a must. Via Garibaldi is listed among the UN Heritage sights and flaunts one of the most opulent residences and palaces of the Renaissance period.

( The Old Port)

Doges Palace or the Piazzo Ducale now houses the cultural attractions stands tall in the midst of the city. The beautiful arches and the imposing structure of Basilica de Santa Maria de Castello is a treat to watch. Not far from Genoa Cathedral and Pallazi dei Roilli( a group of palaces) is the Old Port of Genoa. The tall booms and sails of the ships bring back memories of the tales read during school times of the seafarers. A touch of modernity and smell of fish and pasta make this visit a memorable one. Genoa prides in being the birth place of the now world famous ‘Pesto Pasta’.

( The Beautiful Cathedral of Genoa)

The city has so many attractions that it is virtually impossible to see most in a short visit but a ride on the Bus Route 20 is strongly recommended to enjoy the scenic routes of the city and also the important and must see sightseeing places.

( The lovely architecture of buildings in the street- Genoa)

A piping hot pizza straight from the wood fired oven of a local pizzeria satiated us like nothing else we had tasted in the day. Another day came to an end as the sun slowly slipped into the blue seas in the distant horizon. A yet another journey waited to Padova and Venice the next day.