As mentioned in the previous post in this series, Genoa is a well-known and lovely city but often is overlooked in favour of more famous Italian hot-spots. However, there are plenty of reasons to choose this historic, cultured and beautiful city as your next holiday destination and here are more reasons why you should find a villa in Liguria and visit Genoa ASAP.
3. It Is Home To One Of Europe's Loveliest Public Parks
The city of Genoa is an exceptionally beautiful place, a bustling metropolis full of elegant historic buildings, well-planned public squares, dramatic fountains and sweeping thoroughfares. Complementing these lovely structures are the city's public parks and, among them, the Villa Durazzo-Pallavicini stands out as especially stunning. A 19th century park in the English Romantic style, it is located in the residential neighborhood of Pegli in Genoa, right next to the railway station.
3. It Is Home To One Of Europe's Loveliest Public Parks
The city of Genoa is an exceptionally beautiful place, a bustling metropolis full of elegant historic buildings, well-planned public squares, dramatic fountains and sweeping thoroughfares. Complementing these lovely structures are the city's public parks and, among them, the Villa Durazzo-Pallavicini stands out as especially stunning. A 19th century park in the English Romantic style, it is located in the residential neighborhood of Pegli in Genoa, right next to the railway station.
Originally privately owned, it was later donated to the state and is open to the public daily as a park and botanic garden while the villa for which the park is named is now home to the Museum of Ligurian Archaeology.
Begun in the late 17th century by Clelia Durazzo Grimaldi, who established the Clelia Durazzo Grimaldi Botanic Garden, the estate was enhanced by the creation of the park by her heir and nephew, Ignazio Alessandro Pallavicini.
The park is organized as a series of scenes forming a play and contains two ponds, a dozen monuments, numerous statues, an extensive grotto presented as a Dantesque Inferno with an underground lake, a Coffee House in the shape of triumphal arch, a Turkish Temple, an Obelisk, and a Chinese Pagoda, among other things. Truly exceptional, it is a wonderful place to wander while visiting the city.
Begun in the late 17th century by Clelia Durazzo Grimaldi, who established the Clelia Durazzo Grimaldi Botanic Garden, the estate was enhanced by the creation of the park by her heir and nephew, Ignazio Alessandro Pallavicini.
The park is organized as a series of scenes forming a play and contains two ponds, a dozen monuments, numerous statues, an extensive grotto presented as a Dantesque Inferno with an underground lake, a Coffee House in the shape of triumphal arch, a Turkish Temple, an Obelisk, and a Chinese Pagoda, among other things. Truly exceptional, it is a wonderful place to wander while visiting the city.
4. The Views Are Stunning
Genoa is one of the most incredibly lovely cities in the world and happens to also have the ideal viewing spot to take in the whole blanket of stunning buildings, parks and neighbourhoods. 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 ("small castle") is a residential quarter of Geno, named for a fort that once existed in the area. However, in place of a bulky military building, today there is an incredible terrace suspended over the Historic Centre that offers a 360° “belvedere” (“beautiful view”) out over the city its port. Accessed by the scenic Circonvallazione a Monte bypass or a charming Art Nouveau lift from Piazza Portello, this terrace is one of the city's must-see attractions and is, surely, one of the loveliest views in all of Italy.
If you are still in need of convincing as to why you should head to Genoa, read on to the following posts in this series for even more reasons to visit.
Genoa is one of the most incredibly lovely cities in the world and happens to also have the ideal viewing spot to take in the whole blanket of stunning buildings, parks and neighbourhoods. 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 ("small castle") is a residential quarter of Geno, named for a fort that once existed in the area. However, in place of a bulky military building, today there is an incredible terrace suspended over the Historic Centre that offers a 360° “belvedere” (“beautiful view”) out over the city its port. Accessed by the scenic Circonvallazione a Monte bypass or a charming Art Nouveau lift from Piazza Portello, this terrace is one of the city's must-see attractions and is, surely, one of the loveliest views in all of Italy.
If you are still in need of convincing as to why you should head to Genoa, read on to the following posts in this series for even more reasons to visit.
Photo credits
Picture 1: bibbilo / CC BY-SA 3.0
Picture 1: bibbilo / CC BY-SA 3.0