Genoa is a great unsung hero that many often don't hear much about. It does not seem to garner the endless lines and lines of press that are published about other Italian cities every day but it should. It is a wonderful beauty, filled with architectural gems and hidden treasures. Its history is rich and its cultural heritage is fascinating. Even its graveyard is a stunner.
Among all the sights and attractions, however, one stands apart. It is hard not to notice the Biosfera by famous architect Renzo Piano. Just find a villa in Liguria and pay a visit to this extraordinary structure for yourself.
Renzo Piano was the 1998 Pritzker Prize winner and is probably best known for his controversial design of the Centre Georges Pompidou but is a prolific architect that his left his stamp all over the world. Piano was actually born in Genoa in 1937 and comes from a family of builders.
Among all the sights and attractions, however, one stands apart. It is hard not to notice the Biosfera by famous architect Renzo Piano. Just find a villa in Liguria and pay a visit to this extraordinary structure for yourself.
Renzo Piano was the 1998 Pritzker Prize winner and is probably best known for his controversial design of the Centre Georges Pompidou but is a prolific architect that his left his stamp all over the world. Piano was actually born in Genoa in 1937 and comes from a family of builders.
He worked in his father’s construction company after graduating college before founding the Renzo Piano Building Workshop in 1980, which now has offices in Paris, Genoa and Berlin.
Some of his most famous works include his world’s largest air terminal, built on a man-made island in Osaka Bay in Japan and the San Nicola Soccer Stadium in Bari, Italy.
His most readily recognisable work in Genoa, however, is probably the charming Biosfera. The Biosfera is a structure built near the Acquario di Genova (Genoa Aquarium) in the harbour, a "Glass Bubble" that was designed by Architect Renzo Piano on the occasion of G8 Meeting held in Genoa in July 2001. Made of steel and glass, and suspended over the sea, it is a scenic and popular tourist attraction in the city.
Some of his most famous works include his world’s largest air terminal, built on a man-made island in Osaka Bay in Japan and the San Nicola Soccer Stadium in Bari, Italy.
His most readily recognisable work in Genoa, however, is probably the charming Biosfera. The Biosfera is a structure built near the Acquario di Genova (Genoa Aquarium) in the harbour, a "Glass Bubble" that was designed by Architect Renzo Piano on the occasion of G8 Meeting held in Genoa in July 2001. Made of steel and glass, and suspended over the sea, it is a scenic and popular tourist attraction in the city.
Inside, you will find a small rain forest that has been recreated. It is alive with butterflies, iguanas, ferns, and various species of tropical plants that manage to live thanks to a special arrangement of tents placed on interior walls allow the ball penetrate an adequate level of caloresolare from the outside. In fact, there are more than 150 species that live inside the Biosfera. You will see rare tropical plants: not only tree ferns, but also plants that are traditionally used for human activities, such as gum trees, coffee plants, banana trees and cinnamon. The tree ferns that grow in the Biosphere are the tallest cultivated plants of this species in the whole world.
Here you can also learn about the plant and animal life in tropical forests, and find out more about these fragile environments that are highly endangered by human activities and how we can help. It is not only a beautiful experience, but an educational one as well, and probably one of the most scenic spots in all of Italy.
Here you can also learn about the plant and animal life in tropical forests, and find out more about these fragile environments that are highly endangered by human activities and how we can help. It is not only a beautiful experience, but an educational one as well, and probably one of the most scenic spots in all of Italy.