One of the greatest figures in 20th-century singer-songwriter music; for many, the quintessential singer-songwriter. Born in Genoa On February 18, 1940, in the Pegli neighborhood, Fabrizio De André He spent his childhood and youth in our town, and later returned there as the years went by, reconnecting with his roots. In many of his songs, our town serves as the backdrop; in others, it is main character, with the poet of Italian music recounting many stories from his youth spent here: the hustle and bustle of the harbor area, the brawls in the taverns, and the pretty girls on Via del Campo. For those who love his songs, a tour of the De André’s Genoa For some, it means delving into Faber’s lyrics; for others, it means immersing themselves in the unique atmosphere of Genoa during those years, in the cultural climate of what was once a vibrant city-laboratory.

The De André Family’s Genoa, as seen from our marina: Via del Campo

For those who moor at our marina in the center of Genoa Following in the singer-songwriter’s footsteps is definitely easy—almost second nature. Just a few meters from where we are, berths, in fact, you come across one of Fabrizio De André’s most iconic spots: between the Porto Antico waterfront and the ancient Porta dei Vacca lies Via del Campo, the one that inspired the title and themes of the famous song. Today, of course, this street looks very different from how it did in the 1950s and 1960s; however, the space also takes us back in De André’s footsteps Viadelcampo29red, where the City of Genoa has established a museum dedicated to the Genoese school of singer-songwriters. It’s worth noting that, until 2010, the record and musical instrument store owned by Tassio—a close friend of De André’s—operated within those same walls.

A stroll through the narrow streets of the old town

From Via del Campo, you can venture into the narrow alleys and alleys of the old town, “in the neighborhoods where the good Lord’s sun doesn’t shine / it’s already too busy warming people in other parts of town,” as the song of the same name goes. The prime example here is undoubtedly the Maddalena neighborhood, with its narrow streets and historic shops.

The bustle of the harbor

Another iconic location in De André’s Genoa is Piazza Cavour, at the end of the promenade that leads from our marina to the far end of the Porto Antico area. It was right here, in fact, that the singer-songwriter recorded the bustle of the fish market, which he incorporated into“Crêuza de mä”(meaning “sea mule track”).

The Genoa of Faber and Paolo Villaggio: Sottoripa

Let’s head back just a short walk from our boat slips in Genoa, right behind Marina Porto Antico: after crossing Piazza Caricamento, with its majestic Palazzo San Giorgio, you’ll reach the Portici di Sottoripa. Together with his longtime friend Paolo Villaggio, De Andrè was a regular at the bars along this street overlooking the harbor, starting with the Ragno Verde, a historic hangout where he’d wrap up his evenings in the historic center.

Fabrizio De André’s Genoa Outside the Historic Center

Anyone wishing to extend their tour exploring De André’s Genoa beyond the historic center could include a stop in front of Villa Saluzzo Bombrini, where the young De André lived for years with his parents (who were of Piedmontese origin and middle class; his father, among other things, also served as deputy mayor of Genoa). And why not take a trip to Boccadasse and Nervi, extending as far as the S’Ilario neighborhood, where the train station mentioned in another famous song by the Genoese poet, “Bocca di Rosa,” still stands today.