When presenting Marina Porto Antico to boaters transiting through Liguria and visiting its capital, we love to say that we are in the heart of the city, right in the historic center. Now, for those who are not familiar with the actual layout of Genoa, this might seem strange. How can our small port of Genoa, obviously located by the sea, be at the epicenter of the city? Shouldn’t the very fact of being situated along the line dividing water and land automatically make it marginal to the true city center? However, just a glance at the city map makes it clear that yes, indeed, the small port of Genoa is embraced from every side you look at it from Genoa itself: by drawing an imaginary circle all around our marina, with a radius of about one kilometer, you would actually be able to include all the main attractions of the city, reachable with a decidedly short walk from our berths. All around the small port of Genoa: from the Lanterna to the Cotton Warehouses Imagine being among the berths of our small port of Genoa and looking straight ahead: there in the distance stands the Lanterna of Genoa.

All around the small port of Genoa: from the Lanterna to the Cotton Warehouses Imagine being among the berths of our small port of Genoa and looking straight ahead: there in the distance stands the Lanterna of Genoa. Within an imaginary radius of about one kilometer, gradually turning your gaze to the right, you could encounter:

1. The Lanterna of Genoa: at 77 meters high, the Lanterna of Genoa is the tallest lighthouse in the Mediterranean. Built of stone, its presence has been documented since 1128, although its final appearance wasn’t achieved until 1543.
2. Villa del Principe: built at the beginning of the 16th century for Andrea Doria, the famous admiral of Charles V, it was, among other things, the seat of the court of the Genoese Republic. The palace is ennobled by the stunning Italian garden, which complements the paintings and tapestries inside.
3. Galata Sea Museum: very close to our small port of Genoa is the Galata Sea Museum: just a 500-meter walk separates our berths from the museum’s exhibition spaces and the Nazario Sauro submarine, which floats outside the museum.
4. Royal Palace: it’s impossible, on a walk in the immediate vicinity of our marina, not to be fascinated by this historic building, constructed by the Balbi family in the 17th century and subsequently purchased by the Savoy family during the 19th century.
5. Basilica of the Santissima Annunziata del Vastato: many consider it the most beautiful among Genoa’s churches. This title, moreover, was already assigned to it in the 18th century by Montesquieu, who emphasized the magnificence of its gilded frescoes. Inside, you can find pictorial works attributable to late Mannerism and Baroque, including trompe-l’œil frescoes and fully rounded gold figures at the level of the dome, painted by Andrea Ansaldo.
6. Via del Campo: fans of Fabrizio De André and more generally lovers of singer-songwriter music cannot visit Genoa without lingering on Via del Campo, a small street among the caruggi of the historic center made famous by the Genoese singer-songwriter. Many tours exploring De André’s Genoa start from here.
7. Castello D’Albertis: in the Castelletto district yet just a kilometer from our small port of Genoa, this 19th-century castle offers a stunning panorama of the city. Its creator was Captain Enrico Alberto D’Albertis, who gathered inside all the wonders collected during his travels to distant lands.
8. Via Garibaldi: mention Via Garibaldi and you’re talking about the Palazzi dei Rolli. Here is the seat of the museum system of the Strada Nuova Museums, which connects Palazzo Doria Tursi, Palazzo Bianco, and Palazzo Rosso, which are also surrounded by many other respectable historic buildings, from Palazzo Podestà to Palazzo Pallavicini Tobia.
9. Palazzo Ducale: another historical symbol of the city, residence of the Doge since 1339, it can be reached in less than 15 minutes on foot from the berths of our marina in Genoa. Over the centuries it has been many things: today it is an exceptional space for cultural events and exhibitions. 10. Cathedral of San Lorenzo: not to be missed are the Gothic portals of Genoa’s Cathedral, guarded by 19th-century lions. A curiosity: inside, in the right nave of the cathedral, there is still a British naval grenade that managed to penetrate the church roof without exploding. Needless to say, the most diverse legends circulate around this unexploded ordnance. 11. Piazza De Ferrari: undoubtedly the most famous square in Genoa, unmistakable due to the large fountain placed at its center. Here also stands the famous Carlo Felice Theater, where the Genoese opera season takes place. 12. Columbus House: a few steps from Porta Soprana you can find the museum house dedicated to the discoverer of the Americas. Christopher Columbus spent part of his youth right here; it should be said for completeness that in 1684 the building was partially destroyed during a French bombardment; the current house is therefore a reconstruction – albeit faithful – of the original building. 13. Neptune Vessel: built in the 1980s to reproduce a late 17th-century vessel, it was used as a set for Roman Polanski’s film Pirates, and in other subsequent film works, before finding a place just a few minutes from the berths of our tourist port in Genoa. 14. Aquarium: the Genoa Aquarium certainly needs no introduction! Internationally famous for the variety of its exhibition route, it is located two piers away from our marina.
   It houses 400 different species of animals, from dolphins to penguins, from sharks to manatees.
   15. Bigo: walking through the Old Port of Genoa, you can’t miss the Bigo, a scenic panoramic elevator that offers a unique perspective on the port area and the city center.
   16. Cotton Warehouses: finally, completing the almost 360-degree tour from our tourist port in Genoa, you encounter the Cotton Warehouses, late 19th-century buildings that today house a modern multifunctional center with a conference center, exhibition spaces, and various types of commercial activities.