Sometimes, the very best thing to do while on holidays is to do very little of anything at all. Sometimes, it is better to merely stop, take in your surroundings, truly enjoy them and the moment and relax.
Genoa is one of the most incredibly lovely cities in the world and, while there is plenty to see and do, just taking it all in and enjoying all it has to offer, the feeling of it, is recommended. Wonderfully, the city happens to have a perfect spot to do so. An ideal viewing spot to take in the whole blanket of stunning buildings, parks and neighbourhoods laid out below, that is not a high-rise but a quarter of the city.
Just find a villa in Liguria and see it for yourself.
Genoa is one of the most incredibly lovely cities in the world and, while there is plenty to see and do, just taking it all in and enjoying all it has to offer, the feeling of it, is recommended. Wonderfully, the city happens to have a perfect spot to do so. An ideal viewing spot to take in the whole blanket of stunning buildings, parks and neighbourhoods laid out below, that is not a high-rise but a quarter of the city.
Just find a villa in Liguria and see it for yourself.
High up above the rest of Genoa, and with an amazing terrace overlooking it all, is the aptly named Belvedere Castelletto and it really is quite the beauty.
Castelletto is a residential quarter of Genoa that occupies a hilly area which, until the 17th century, it was outside the city walls. The name, meaning "small castle" in Italian, stems from a fort commanding the whole Genoese area, that is recorded as early as the 10th century AD and was then dismantled in the late 19th century. That is, until 1849, when it was razed to the ground by public demand, as it was deemed a menace to the city below in the event of enemy occupation.
In place of a bulky military building is an incredible terrace suspended over the Historic Centre with a 360° view out over the city and port.
Castelletto is a residential quarter of Genoa that occupies a hilly area which, until the 17th century, it was outside the city walls. The name, meaning "small castle" in Italian, stems from a fort commanding the whole Genoese area, that is recorded as early as the 10th century AD and was then dismantled in the late 19th century. That is, until 1849, when it was razed to the ground by public demand, as it was deemed a menace to the city below in the event of enemy occupation.
In place of a bulky military building is an incredible terrace suspended over the Historic Centre with a 360° view out over the city and port.
It is accessed by the scenic Circonvallazione a Monte bypass or a charming Art Nouveau lift from Piazza Portello (a stone's throw from the Strada Nuova) and, upon reaching the top: views across the slate rooftops, medieval towers, Baroque domes, parks, villas and the sea glittering in the distance. Alinari's 1910 photographs popularised the spot and it quickly became one of Genoa's must-see wonders. Today, it remains one of the city's must-see attractions and is, surely, one of the loveliest views in all of Italy.
Photo credits
picture 1: Bbruno / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Alessandro Vecchi / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: bibbilo / CC BY-SA 3.0
picture 1: Bbruno / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Alessandro Vecchi / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: bibbilo / CC BY-SA 3.0