ADVERTORIAL
Photo by Michelle Jobin
“If you love historic art and architecture, Genoa is worth visiting especially for the Palazzi dei Rolli, the gilded and magnificent palaces built by the wealthy merchant class of the late 16th and 17th centuries. ” Piazza De Ferrari, Genoa
Last October Genoa hosted the 10th edition of Mirabilia, a convention on cultural tourism for the promotion of the territories and the UNESCO sites of Italy. ICCO Canada, in collaboration with Promos Italia was present at the event to promote investment opportunities and new tourist destinations in the Liguria region. TV Personality, producer and writer Michelle Jobin travelled to Genoa for us to discover some of the hidden gems of the Italian Riviera.
BY M I C H E L L E J O B I N
The Case for a Ligurian Getaway
F
rom the lush and luxe shores of Portofino to the bustle of Genoa that has built up around marvels of art and architecture, there is so much to love about the Liguria region of Italy. After my experience there this past October, I’m here to tell you to add the Italian Riviera to your itinerary the next time you visit Italy. I must admit, I feel a little shy about writing about Italy for Italian-Canadian readers. But from my outsider’s perspective it seems to often be overlooked for places like Rome, Tuscany, Venice, and so on. And thanks to the resounding success of the most recent season of The White Lotus, bookings for Sicily are going to be a hot commodity. If you want to travel a path that’s more under the radar (read: less crowded and touristy) in 2023, Liguria has so much to offer. One of the first words that comes to mind when I think of Genoa is layers. With first settlements dating back to pre-Roman times in the 4th, or 5th century B.C., it is a city that has endured the rise and fall of numerous empires and political dynasties, even
when that has meant rebuilding after destruction (both the Second Punic War and World War II were particularly unkind). Throughout it all, Genoa’s crucial position as a port on the Mediterranean has remained, and as such it has seen many seasons where it flourished. These layers are most apparent when strolling Genoa’s streets - from winding mazes of medieval alleyways (or caruggi to the locals), to the grand Strade Nuove of the 16th century, many marvels of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture coexist. Bring your comfiest shoes - walking is a great way to see what is a relatively steep city at times. From those old alleyways, to the shops of Via XX Settembre or to the Porto Antico to take in the seaside and some modern developments, including the Aquarium of Genoa. If you love historic art and architecture, Genoa is worth visiting especially for the Palazzi dei Rolli, the gilded and magnificent palaces built by the wealthy merchant class of the late 16th and 17th centuries. There are 100 of these marvels in Genoa, and 42 of them have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. There is no better time to experience Genoa’s palazzi than to visit
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