The summer has finished (at least officially, cause the weather is still very hot this year). The Ligurians came back to Genoa … the capital of Liguria. That’s why I decided to start with the first place you probably see when you come to Genoa :
Via XX Settembre (20 September Street)
This is one of the most representative streets in Genoa. It is 792 meters long and 20 meters wide. It is very elegant. It starts in Piazza della Vittoria (Victory Square) where is located a Genova Brignole railway station. The street ends in Piazza de Ferrari (de Ferrari Square) where you can visit Palazzo Ducale (the Duke Palace) and Teatro Carlo Felice (the Carlo Felice theatre). Along the street, you can find the most important and famous brands, little shops with handcrafts and elegant boutiques. This is the place where inhabitants of Genoa do the shopping.
History
The street was created between 1892 and 1924. Before its creation that part of Genoa was full of narrow streets, medieval houses and churches. For its new look were demolished 400 houses, 2 city gates, 2 hospitals, 1 prison and a part of an aqueduct.
Architecture
There are 26 tenement houses that were built in liberty style. They have loggias, towers, bow-windows and the cupolas. The most characteristics building of this street is Palazzo dei Giganti (The Giants Palace). On its facade, you can notice 8 statues of enormous Telamons. It was also the first building in Genoa that was built with reinforced concrete. The newness of that time was also that all the houses in via XX had the lifts and the central heating.
Other characteristics of via XX are its arcades and mosaic floor. The arcades are 5 meters high and they are enriched with the panelled ceilings.
Mercato Orientale (Eastern Market)
It was inaugurated in 1899. The market was created to congregate in one place the all small open-air-markets that were scattered in the city. It was built inside an old monastery, next to the eastern city gate (that gave the name of the market). Now on the market are placed 102 counters where you can find everything. Fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, spices, flowers, etc … really worth visiting 😉
Ponte Monumentale (Monumental Bridge)
The bridge is 21 meters high. It is made of reinforced concrete and covered with a marble. It connects a beautiful district of Carignano with the Acquasola park. You can go up to the bridge. From there you can admire a fantastic panorama of via XX and Genoa.
Ristorante Zeffirino (Zeffirino Restaurant)
It is a little bit old-fashioned restaurant. It is also quite expensive. I’ve never eaten there so I can’t recommend you if its worth or not to go there … however, I mention it because it is still very famous for its pesto. The one who fell in love with that pesto was Frank Sinatra !!! He loved it so much that Zeffirino Restaurant sent the pesto every week to the US to Mr Sinatra … Nowadays you can try even Zeffirino – Frank – Sinatra Pesto and eat in another Restaurant Zeffirino in … Las Vegas 😉
In this way, we start a winter season! We will back to Genoa many times again 😉
