Culture of Genoa. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Genoa will certainly please fans of captivating excursions. The city is famous for its exquisite palaces, interesting museums and symbolic monuments. San Giorgio Palace has become the symbol of the city for many years. All travellers, who visit Genoa, tend to visit it. The design of the building is elegant and rigorous, and its inner decoration is truly fantastic in even slightest details. The halls of the palace are decorated with frescoes, which depict one of the most important historical events - the discovery of America by Columbus.

Among the striking historic monuments of the city we should definitely mention Porta Soprano gates, which are a kind of entrance to the old district of Genoa. Previously the gates were a part of a large fortification. The city was surrounded by a thick stone wall with five gates. Only two gates and a small piece of the wall have survived till our time. The historical monument is often used as a venue for orchestra concerts. Among the most famous religious sites of the city we must mention San Lorenzo Cathedral, the construction of which took place in the 12th century. According to a legend, the cathedral was built on the site of an ancient temple, which was founded in the 3rd century by St. Lawrence. The main religious item, which has been kept in the cathedral for centuries, is a beautiful cup made of green glass.

Guests of the city should not forget to visit University Palace. The opening of the educational institution took place in 1635. During a walk through the corridors of the palace, visitors can see the portraits of first professors who taught at the university almost four hundred years ago. You will find one more famous attraction near Porta Soprano. This is the House of Columbus. The house is the birthplace of the famous discoverer, whose name is now well-known and respected in every country. The small house has been converted into a museum and is now visited by hundreds of curious tourists every day. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The church of St. John the Baptist is an incredibly beautiful building. The construction of the church was started in 1451 and lasted almost 15 years. Currently the walls of the cathedral keep several very important religious artifacts, so every year the shrine attracts a large number of pilgrims. An excursion to Palazzo Bianco Gallery will leave many positive memories. Here visitors can see a rich collection of valuable paintings. Palazzo Rosso Museo is a no less famous and popular cultural institution. The museum is located in a beautiful medieval palace.