Surroundings
There are many things to do and see in the neighbourhoods of Genoa.
For medieval villages lovers there are many small towns to visit both on the west coast and its hinterland such as Noli, Borgio Verezzi, Varigotti, Finalborgo and Dolceacqua, Triora (the witches’ village), Apricale and Bussana Vecchia.
If you are looking for a family trip outside the city, you can take the trenino di Casella from Piazza Manin. The train crosses the Bisagno and Scrivia Valleys and stops in many villages, where you can have lunch in the typical trattorias or have a picnic.
In the Scrivia Valley you can visit the Castello della Pietra, in Vobbia, a manor house built on the stone spur that looks like it came out of a fantasy book.
Another interesting destination in the area is the Monte Antola “the mountain of Genoese people” with its many paths, located in the Natural Park that brings the same name. The suggestioni s to visit this place in May, when the narcissuses blossom in a spectacular way.
For parks and trekking lovers, you cannot miss the Beigua Park, from its mountains you can enjoy a beautiful panorama on the sea, a wonderful view can be also enjoy from the Faiallo pass. In a short distance, in the Municipality of Mele, you can visit the nice Genoese thermal baths, the ancient paper mill that has become a museum and the Acquasanta sanctuary. In the neighboourhoods you can find a wide choice of restaurants and trattorias to enjoy the local cuisine.
For sea lovers who loved the Acquario di Genova, there are different tours: from many small ports of the coast you can sail to the Whale and Dolphin Sanctuary, a protected sea area, where you can observe these beautiful sea mammals, safeguarded and respected in their natural habitat.
On the east coast you can visit Recco, the land of the famous focaccia al formaggio IGP, or reach the wonderful sea village of Camogli, whose beaches and venues can make you experience a typical charming atmosphere. You can reach San Fruttuoso di Camogli with a ferry, it is a magical place. You can visit the abbey and the small beach with its restaurants and bars. If you are trained, on your way back, you can take one of the trails of the Portofino Park. The sea of the area is protected and has a wonderful seabed. Off the waters of the San fruttuoso bay, the enormous “Christ of the Abyss” statue is located 15 meters below the sea.
A must-see is the famous piazzetta di Portofino, since the Fifties the typical Ligurian small town became the favourite place of many VIPs.
The view over the sea from the railway live that goes from Genoa to the Cinque Terre National Park is worth the ticket price! A train trip to the Cinque Terre is a must for Ligury visitors: they are five small towns over the sea characterized by a beauty which goes beyond words. Here you can still find the charm of fishermen villages that can be visited on foot. You can stop to dive into the sea of follow the trails surrounded by lemon trees, the ones that inspired the poem of Eugenio Montale.
For shopping addicted, near the Cinqueterre, you can find the Brugnato outlet;, not far from Ligury, there is also the immense mall of Serravalle Scrivia Design Outlet & Retail Park.