Jiving in Genoa

To save a little money, we often forgo the luxury of marina's and 'camp out', anchoring off beaches or wherever we can find a scrap of shelter. In fine weather, this is usually okay except for one thing. The Ligurian Sea is quite an open expanse of water, stretching from Spain through France to Italy, and it tends to develop a sizeable swell.  There are very few protected anchorages or 'snuggle pots'. For Pavlovians camping out off beaches or at the entrances to ports, that means nights of rock and roll, of being swatted from one side of the bed to the other, of snubbed toes as your foot takes a different trajectory than the one planned. And at some point, out of sheer exhaustion, we cry 'Enough'! and seek the sanctuary of a marina.

Genoa skyline...

... taken from the roof of the Maritime Museum

That was the case when we hit Genoa. We also loved the city, and its accessibility, so we booked into the excellent Porto Antico marina, right in the middle of old Genoa, for 6 nights. It meant we could stroll into the city at any time, no messing about with tenders and finding somewhere to set foot on land. Long showers, unlimited water, clean clothes, ah ... the life of luxury.

Entrance to the Palazzo Reale

Genoan street

Moorish influence to the churches? 

Church tower

Genoa was a major power in medieval times, and the city is overflowing with grand palaces. We visited two, the Palazzo Reale and the Palazzo Rosso.

Palazzo Reale

... used by major wealthy traders in the 1600's

The famous hall of mirrors

King of Sardinia added a throne room when he bought the house

Baroque furnishings

Balcony overlooks the Genoa port

Exterior of the Palace

Pond in the garden

Period bedroom

Sitting room

We also loved the street life in Genoa. There is a sizeable African community, so we had a great
 meal in a Senegal restaurant. We love train travel, and there is a historic narrow gauge rail line that runs  from its own station at Genova Piazza Manin into the mountains behind Genoa to the scenic town of Castella. It was an hour trip each way into the cooler mountains, with a stroll around the town and markets at Castella.

Enjoying a Senegal meal

Taking the train into the hills

Meagan training it.

Arriving at Castella

Street market at Castella

We thoroughly enjoyed our respite from rocking and rolling in Genoa, but thought to venture further afield. With the great railways here, our next adventure will be to Turin. Arrivederci!