51 Facts About Genoa

Genoa is the capital of the Italian region of Liguria and the sixth-largest city in Italy.

Genoa was the capital of one of the most powerful maritime republics for over seven centuries, from the 11th century to 1797.

Genoa is home to the University of Genoa, which has a history going back to the 15th century, when it was known as Genuense Athenaeum.

Goods were moved to and from Genoa's hinterland, including major cities like Tortona and Piacenza.

Around the 14th century, Genoa was considered responsible for the creation of the Jeans.

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Genoa's jean fabric was a fustian textile of "medium quality and of reasonable cost", very similar to cotton corduroy for which Genoa was famous, and was "used for work clothes in general".

Thereafter, Genoa underwent something of an associate of the Spanish Empire, with Genoese bankers, in particular, financing many of the Spanish crown's foreign endeavors from their counting houses in Seville.

Genoa's trade remained closely dependent on control of Mediterranean sealanes, and the loss of Chios to the Ottoman Empire, struck a severe blow.

Genoa continued its slow decline well into the 18th century, losing its last Mediterranean colony, the island fortress of Tabarka, to the Bey of Tunis in 1742.

Consequently, the Republic of Genoa signed a secret treaty with the Bourbon allies of Kingdom of France, Spanish Empire and Kingdom of Naples.

Flag of Genoa is a St George's Cross, a red cross on a white field.

Patron saint of Genoa was Saint Lawrence until at least 958, but the Genoese transferred their allegiance to Saint George at some point during the 11th or 12th century, most likely with the rising popularity of the military saint during the Crusades.

Genoa had a banner displaying a cross since at latest 1218, possibly as early as 1113.

City of Genoa covers an area of 243 square kilometres between the Ligurian Sea and the Apennine Mountains.

The territory of Genoa is popularly divided into 5 main zones: the centre, the west, the east, the Polcevera and the Bisagno Valley.

Genoa is adjacent to two popular Ligurian vacation spots: Camogli and Portofino.

Genoa sees significant moderation from the sea, in stark contrast to areas behind the Ligurian mountains such as Parma, where summers are hotter and winters are quite cold.

Genoa is a windy city, especially during winter when northern winds often bring cool air from the Po Valley .

Genoa often receives heavy rainfall in autumn from strong convection.

Municipal Council of Genoa is currently led by a right-wing majority, elected in June 2017.

Genoa was traditionally considered a leftist city and Bucci is the first right-wing mayor since 1975.

City of Genoa is subdivided into nine municipi, as approved by the Municipal Council in 2007.

The centre of Genoa is connected to its upper part by ancient paths caught between tall palaces, called creuze.

The East Riviera of Genoa called Riviera di Levante is part of the Italian Riviera.

New Genoa based its rebirth upon the restoration of the green areas of the immediate inland parts, among them the Parco naturale regionale del Beigua, and upon the construction of facilities such as the Aquarium of Genoa in the Old Harbour – the biggest in Italy and one of the major in Europe – and its Marina .

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Beyond a complete restyling of the area, the ancient port zone nearby the Mandraccio opening, in Porta Siberia, was enriched by Genoese architect Renzo Piano with a large sphere made of metal and glass, installed in the port's waters, not far from the Aquarium of Genoa, and unveiled in 2001 in occasion of the G8 Summit held in Genoa.

Near Genoa is found the Shrine of Nostra Signora della Guardia, .

Also from Genoa were: Giovanni Paolo Oliva, the Superior General of the Society of Jesus; Girolamo Grimaldi-Cavalleroni, the Archbishop of Aix; Ausonio Franchi, priest, philosopher, and theologian; Cardinal Giuseppe Siri; and the priests Francesco Repetto, Giuseppe Dossetti, Gianni Baget Bozzo, and Andrea Gallo.

The present archbishop of Genoa, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, comes from a Genoese family but was born in Pontevico, near Brescia .

Main features of central Genoa include the Piazza De Ferrari, around which are the Opera and the Palace of the Doges.

In Genoa there are 114 noble palaces : among these 42 are inscribed on the World Heritage List.

Genoa was home to the Ponte Morandi by Riccardo Morandi, built in 1967, collapsed in 2018 and demolished February–June 2019.

Large portions of these walls remain today, and Genoa has more and longer walls than any other city in Italy.

Aquarium of Genoa is the largest aquarium in Italy and among the largest in Europe.

Genoa has the lowest birth rate and is the most aged of any large Italian city.

The median age of Genoa's residents is 47, compared to the Italian average of 42.

Some companies based in Genoa include Ansaldo STS, Ansaldo Energia, Edoardo Raffinerie Garrone, Piaggio Aerospace, Registro Italiano Navale, Banca Carige, SLAM, and Costa Cruises.

Today the University of Genoa, founded in the 15th century, is one of the largest in Italy, with 11 faculties, 51 departments and 14 libraries.

Genoa is the birthplace of Giovanni Battista Baliani and Vincentio Reinieri, of the geneticist Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza, of the Nobel Prize astrophysicist Riccardo Giacconi and of the astronaut Franco Malerba.

Genoa Brignole is close to the business districts and the exhibition centre, while the Principe is close to the port, the university and the historical centre.

Genoese painters active in the 14th century include Barnaba da Modena and his local followers Nicolo da Voltri and at the same time, the sculptor Giovanni Pisano reached Genoa to make the monument for Margaret of Brabant, whose remains are today housed in the Museum of Sant'Agostino.

Genoa's is portrayed in The Birth of Venus and Primavera by Sandro Botticelli and in Portrait of Simonetta Vespucci by Piero di Cosimo.

Genoa is famous for its numerous tapestries, which decorated the city's many salons.

The city of Genoa has been an inspiration to many writers and poets among which: Dino Campana, Camillo Sbarbaro, Gaspare Invrea who wrote "The mouth of the wolf" and Giorgio Caproni.

Genoa was a centre of Occitan culture in Italy and for this reason it developed an important school of troubadours: Lanfranc Cigala, Jacme Grils, Bonifaci Calvo, Luchetto Gattilusio, Guillelma de Rosers, and Simon Doria.

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Genoa is the birthplace of the composer Simone Molinaro, violinist and composer Niccolo Paganini, violinist Camillo Sivori and composer Cesare Pugni.

Genoa is the birthplace of the condcuctor Fabio Luisi and of many opera singers like Giuseppe Taddei, Margherita Carosio, Luciana Serra, Ottavio Garaventa, Luisa Maragliano and Daniela Dessi.

Genoa has been the set for many films and especially for the genre called Polizieschi.

Notable directors born in Genoa include Pietro Germi and Giuliano Montaldo, the actors: Gilberto Govi, Vittorio Gassman, Paolo Villaggio, Alberto Lupo, the actresses: Lina Volonghi, Delia Boccardo, Rosanna Schiaffino, Eleonora Rossi Drago, Marcella Michelangeli and the pornographic actress Moana Pozzi.

In Genoa there are many food markets in typical nineteenth-century iron structures as Mercato del Ferro, Mercato Dinegro, Mercato di Via Pre, Mercato di piazza Sarzano, Mercato del Carmine, Mercato della Foce, Mercato Romagnosi.

Genoa has left an extraordinary impression on many noted personalities.