Genoa, Italy. August 27, 2016

Another day trip from Bordighera. Genoa is an amazing city. A friend of ours compared it to a Pearl in an Oyster - beauty hidden within a rough shell. As you arrive in the Genoa harbor you can definitely see and feel the roughness. Not discounting the beauty of the Palazzo San Giorgio who is unfortunately partly hidden by the elevated highway (la Sopraelevata) and the unique structure designed by Renzo Piano: Il Bigo. 

But as you enter into the old city, you gradually discover the beauty of Genoa: The Pearl also often referred as La Superba!

Our first stop was Via Balbi to see the University of Genova where Claudio is building up on his already extensive knowledge.  

In front of the University, we entered into the Palazzo Reale built in 1618 for the Balbi family which subsequently became the home of the Royal Family of Savoy.

Lunch at Cavo Ristorante on the recommendation of Gigia. This is an exquisite place with beautiful antique fresco on the ceiling and refined painted scenes on the walls. The food is very good and the service excellent. We felt like Principessa and Principe Fay back 200 years in time.

On Via Garibaldi 12, there is a unique concept store that encapsulates the sophistication of the Genovese style and Italian sense of design. 

On the same Via Garibaldi, we crossed the street from one Palazzo to the next. We visited the Palazzo Rosso and the Palazzo Bianco, and the Palazzo Tursi. Our heads were spinning!

One of the most amazing aspects of Genova is its churches. We could have spent three days just visiting the city incredible churches some hosting painting from old masters such as Rubens. Time was limited but we were able to see the most famous including la Chiesa del Gesù and la Cathedral di San Lorenzo.