Tag Archives: Genoa

December 2, 2012 · 11:29 am

Buon Natale: Holiday Events in Genoa Italy

Genova, Via Garibaldi Palazzo Rosso
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In northwestern Italy, on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, the 16th and 17th century “New Streets” of Genoa can be found in the historic city center. Le Strada Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli became an inscribed UNESCO site in 2006. The elaborate Renaissance and Baroque palaces are located on Via Balbi and Via Garibaldi and present an excellent “Buon Natale” holiday experience. 

The area around the Cathedral of San Lorenzo is medieval, but the 12th century Duomo is Romanesque. Genoa is Italy’s most important commercial port.  The “Lanterna” lighthouse is a vestige of Genoa’s medieval glory.  Genoa has the largest aquarium in Europe located in Porto Antico www.portoantico.it. Porto Antico also has a Childrens’ Museum with a lovely waterfront Promenade and shops. The restaurants offer outstanding “Vino con Vista” oppotunities.

According to legend, this may have been the childhood home of Christopher Columbus whose memory permeates the town. Genoa’s historically impressive “urban development projects represent plans by the public authority to parcel out a system of lodging based upon legislation.” UNESCO

On Via Garibaldi, Genoa’s most beautiful street, the 16th century Palazzo Bianco houses an outstanding collection of Ligurian art from 1400 to 1700 including works by Luca Cambiaso, Bernardo Strozzi and Giovanni Benedetto.  At the Palazzo Bianco, one of my favorite Caravaggio’s paintings “Ecce Homo” (Behold the Man of Sorrows) can be viewed; as well as frescoes by de Ferrari and Domenico Piola. The Gallery of Palazzo Rosso has a fine collection of furniture, ceramics and Chinese pottery. The Museum of Oriental Art houses treasures brought to Genoa by her famous navigators.

Genova, Via Garibaldi Palazzo Carrega Cataldi ...

Genova, Via Garibaldi Palazzo Carrega Cataldi – interno (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The “Rolli” palaces were patrician residences built by the wealthiest and most powerful aristocratic families of the Republic of Genoa.  These dwellings were built at the height of Genoa’s seafaring prowess.  Palaces are generally three to four stories high and feature spectacular staircases, courtyards, and loggias overlooking gardens.  The owners of these palazzi were obligated to host official visits of State as decreed by the Senate in 1576.  These formal visits contributed to the dissemination of their architectural model, which attracted famous artists like Peter Paul Rubens.

Italiano: Genova, Via Garibaldi; Palazzo Podes...

Image via Wikipedia

Holiday Events in Genoa:

Christmas Market “Mercatino di Natale di Porto Siberia” at Porto Antico until January 9th

18th Century Navity Scene in Palazzo Rosso Museum until February 6th

St. Nicholas Market in Piazza Picca Pietra where vendors will be dressed in Medieval costumes December 5-23

“Natalidea” Festival at the Fiera di Genoa from December 7-19

“Pontedecimo Nativity” wIth outdoor Christmas stalls and Nativity Scenes at the Villa Serra di Comago on VIa Carlo Levi in Genoa Pontedecimo

  To learn more about Italy read www.vino-con-vista.comTravel Guides.

Genova, Via Garibaldi Palazzo Podestà

Image via Wikipedia

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August 14, 2012 · 12:09 pm

Experience the Amazing Italian Riviera in the Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre
Image by Ronile35 via Flickr

Liguria is thin crescent-shaped coastal strip of land on a mountain range that borders the sea. It is divided into two sections: a western coastline on the French border near San Remo and an eastern coastline that houses the Cinque Terre and Portovenere on the Mare Ligure.

Genoa is the regional capital of Liguria and lies at about the midpoint of these two areas that comprise the Ligurian Riviera. The illustrious Portofino Peninsula is southeast of Genoa, one of the most exclusive coastal resort areas in Italy.

The Genoa Cathedral.

The Genoa Cathedral. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Porto Venere is located on the Ligurian coast of Italy in the province of La Spezia. It comprises the villages of Fezzano, Le Grazie and Porto Venere. There are three islands near Porto Venere: Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto.

Via dell'Amore - Riomaggiore

Via dell’Amore – Riomaggiore (Photo credit: Ciccio Pizzettaro)

Porto Venere

Porto Venere (Photo credit: anroir)

In 1997, Porto Venere and the villages of Cinque Terre were designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Here are some UNESCO photos of the Cinque Terre

http://www.ourplaceworldheritage.com/custom.cfm?&action=site&regionid=9&site_country=ITALY&site_name=Portovenere, Cinque Terre, and the Islands (Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto)&siteid=91

Portovenere, Liguria, Italia

Portovenere, Liguria, Italia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Vernazza town in Liguria, Italy. Nederlands: C...

Vernazza town in Liguria, Italy. Nederlands: Cinque Terre: Vernazza (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Cinque Terre includes “Five lands” that cling to the cliffs of the Riviera di Levante including Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. The scenic Ligurian Coast between Cinque Terre and Portovenere presents a fascinating landscape.

Riomaggiore, the first village of the Cinque T...

Riomaggiore, the first village of the Cinque Terre. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The pristine layout of the seaside villages and small towns are characterized by steep mountain slopes that are engulfed by the splendor of the sea. The local residents have overcome the disadvantages of a steep, uneven terrain by creating an agricultural economy using terraced vineyards. These mesmerizing “Five Lands” overlooking the sea provide a seductive walking promenade called the “Via dell’Amore” (Lovers’ Road).  The path is between the cities of Manarola and Riomaggiore.

The cuisine of the Cinque Terre is very flavorful and highly dependent upon fresh local ingredients. Try some regional pasta in pesto sauce or local savory pies like torte di verdure with fresh vegetables or torta di riso with rice. Frittate is very popular in Liguria. The fish soup and stuffed anchovies are delicious.

The Cinque Terre vineyards produce mostly white Cinque Terre wines from Vermentino grapes. The area is home to a number of fine terraced vineyards that are carved into the mountains. The most famous Ligurian wine from this region is a white dessert wine called Sciacchetra that is crushed from partially dried grapes. It was considered the “wine of the gods” in the ancient Roman Empire.

Vernazza town in Liguria, Italy. Vernazza is i...

Vernazza town in Liguria, Italy. Vernazza is in the cinque terre region. Français : Le village de Vernazza, dans les cinque terre, en Ligurie (Italie). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

To learn more about Italy read www.vino-con-vista.com Travel Guides and

Vino Con Vista Travel Guides can be purchased at these sites

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April 28, 2012 · 11:58 am

Protected: My Glorious Vino con Vista Weekend in Genoa Italy

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September 10, 2010 · 7:06 pm

Genoa Italy: The Legend of Christopher Columbus and the UNESCO Connection

Christoper Columbus arrives in America

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Genoa is the capital city of Liguria. It is located in northwestern Italy, on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Genoa, which forms the southern corner of the Milan-Turin-Genoa industrial triangle of north-west Italy, is one of Italy’s major economic centers.

Here’s a Genoa Video for all my Italian friends on Columbus Day http://youtu.be/wujacerrsp8. Christopher Columbus is very popular in this part of the world.

On October 12, 1492, Columbus landed in the Bahama Islands on his first voyage. This event spawned the “Columbian Exchange” of goods from the New World” to the “Old World” and visa versa. The Columbian Exchange was the widespread exchange of animals, plants, culture, human populations (including slaves), communicable disease and ideas between the Eastern and Western hemispheres (Old World and New World). His ships were nicknamed the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria.

Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean. These voyages led to general European awareness of the American continents in the Western Hemisphere. The events led to the establishment of permanent settlements in the island of Hispaniola. This initiated the process of Spanish colonization which eventually led to the European colonization of the “New World“.

Columbus boats in Genoa Italy

Columbus boats in Genoa Italy

Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus

Marvel at the 16th and 17thcentury “New Streets” of Genoa that can be found in the historic city center. There are many interesting sites in Genoa. The Cathedral of St. Lawrence (Cattedrale di San Lorenzo) is a church in the Italian city of Genoa, and is the seat of the Archbishop of Genoa.

Visit the Aquarium in Genoa. Genoa has the largest aquarium in Europe.  Elaborate Renaissance and Baroque palaces are located on Via Balbi and Via Garibaldi. 

Neptune in Genoa Italy

Neptune in Genoa Italy

Genoa Italy

Genoa ItalyThe area around the Cathedral of San Lorenzo is medieval, but the 12th century Duomo is Romanesque. Genoa is Italy’s most important commercial port. The “Lanterna” lighthouse is a vestige of Genoa’s medieval glory. Visit the open space dedicated to Columbus Voyage with the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. Genoa Italy Sites

 

In this childhood home of Christopher Columbus; his memory permeates the town. Genoa’s historically impressive “urban development projects represent plans by the public authority to parcel out a system of lodging based upon legislation.”( UNESCO) These palaces can be found on the Strada Nuova.

Genoa Italy: Stada Nuova Palazzo Rosso

Stada Nuova Palazzo Rosso

On Via Garibaldi, Genoa’s most beautiful street, the 16th century Palazzo Bianco houses an outstanding collection of Genoese art by Luca Cambiaso, Bernardo Strozzi and Giovanni Benedetto. At the Palazzo Rosso, Carravaggio’s “Ecce Homo” (Man of Sorrows) can be viewed; as well as frescoes by de Ferrari and Domenico Piola.

 

The Palazzo Ducale was the seat of Genoa’s ruling doges and also contains important masterpieces. The Palazzo Reale was used by the kings of Savoy and has an ornate 17th century interior.

Via Garibaldi in Geona Italy

Via Garibaldi in Geona Italy

The “Rolli” palaces were patrician residences built by the wealthiest and most powerful aristocratic families of the Republic of Genoa. These dwellings were built at the height of Genoa’s seafaring prowess. 

Port of Genoa Italy

Port of Genoa Italy

 

The Palaces in Genoa are generally three to four stories high and feature spectacular staircases, courtyards and loggias overlooking gardens. The owners of these palazzi were obligated to host official visits of State as decreed by the Senate in 1576.  These formal visits contributed to the dissemination of their architectural model, which attracted famous artists like Peter Paul Rubens.

Genoa Italy

Genoa Italy

Genoa Italy

Genoa Italy

Genoa Italy Sites

Genoa Italy Sites

Dr. EveAnn Lovero writes Travel Guides. To learn more about Italy, visit www.vino-con-vista.com

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May 5, 2010 · 5:53 pm

Italy’s Amazing Amalfi Coast

The Duomo of Amalfi
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The Amalfi coast is dotted with picturesque hill towns that line the cliffs of the southern side of the Sorrentine Peninsula from Positano to Vietri sul Mare. The area includes the vibrant Vino con Vista towns of Amalfi, Positano and Ravello with sun-kissed vineyards, lemon and olive groves. This is arguably one of the most enchanting coastlines in Italy and offers plenty of Vino con Vista opportunities!

Amalfi was the first Maritime Republic before Venice, Genoa and Pisa until King Roger II took over in 1131. The strategic location enabled Amalfi’s military to ward off  pirates and invaders.  Amalfi was a wealthy trading powerhouse and dominated trade in spices, papermaking and silk.  Amalfiwas the name a beautiful nymph loved by Hercules. It is Italy’s oldest Republic founded in 840. 

The historic center includes the Piazza del Duomo with 57 stairs that lead to the atrium of the cathedral that was built in 987 and dedicated to Saint Andrew the Apostle. Visit the elaborate crypt that holds the relics of St. Andrew, the patron saint of Amalfi. This apostle’s relics came from Constantinople in 1206. He is honored twice a year in Amalfi: on November 30 and June 27 with an elaborate procession. The tympanum boasts a beautiful mosaic by Domenico Morelli showing Christ enthroned. The cathedral was altered in the 18th century to reflect the Baroque style, but traces of the original structure are still apparent inside.  Enter the Paradiso Cloister for an outstanding view of the belfry. The cloister was once a cemetery.

In the Odyssey, Homer recounted the legend of the Sirens, evil nymphs that lured sailors to their deaths with sweet serenades. There are three privately-owned small islands off the coast of Positano. In Greek mythology, they were called Sirenuse islands because they were believed to be the bodies of the three Sirens.  According to legend, the hostile sirens (nymphs) lured sailors with their sweet songs. They were created to protect Aegean sailors from the treachery of the sea by personifying the danger of the seas as sirens. Aegean sailors imagined bodies of Ligea, Leucosia and Partenope, the sirens who committed suicide when Odysseus did not fall for their enchanting songs.

Consider a boat excursion to the Emerald Grotto to see incredible stalactites protruding from the marine cave’s ceiling. Plan a visit to Furore, a wine town between Amalfi and Positano where charming murals of Bacchus clutching clusters of grapes decorate the town. Stay and dine at the luxurious Furore Inn Resort with panoramic terraces.

In Amalfi, stroll along the Piazza to Via Lorenzo d’Amalfi to visit the Paper Museum. Learn about the history of some of the first paper mills in Europe. The Valley of the Paper Mills produces high-quality paper.  Amatruda is the oldest paper manufacturer in Europe and sells lovely products at its shop. Visit the Torre dello Ziro where Queen Joan of Aragon was imprisoned and later beheaded.

To learn more about the Amalfi Coast read www.vino-con-vista.com Travel Guides and  

Vino Con Vista Travel Guides can be purchased at these sites

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