Italy's Beauty There is so much beauty for which art lovers and people like you and me turn to Italy for the models, that we sometimes loose sight of the universality of Italian artistic production. There is scarcely a department of art work in which Italy did not excel the world in history.

Genoa port city, Mediterranean cruise stopover

What to see and do in a few hours in Genoa, whilst off the cruise ship? - There are many things or places that one can do or visit in a few hours when in Genoa. First and foremost, assuming you have the energy for an 80-mile return road trip, you should try to head to the famous seaside village of Portofino, part of the spectacular Cinque Terre.

Assuming, you prefer to take it easy, stay in the city. The city’s name comes from a Latin name that means the gate, and thus is considered the gateway to the sea. This means one can enjoy the picturesque scenery of the horizons, beaches and markets of the Orient, awitng to get back on board. Within a few hours, one can discover a lot about Genoa’s history, culture and its people. This can be from the alleys that are winding, palaces, architecture that illuminates medieval renaissance, and different forms of art.

Art galleries in Genoa

There are a number of outstanding art galleries in Genoa that can give one an understanding of how the city has gained a reputation as a city of art and culture. Many of its art galleries contain masterpieces that date back to previous centuries. For example one can visit the Museo Palazzo Rosso and Museo Palazzo Bianco, which are the two most important art galleries in Genoa. In these museums, there are several art works of famous artists of mostly Italian origin. Museo Palazzo Rosso is a 17th Century building, which has beautiful decorated rooms that make up a splendid backdrop to exhibits. This museum hosts sculptures, paintings, frescoes and porcelain that one can enjoy watching when spending a few hours in the city. Museo Palazzo Bianco, on the other hand, was built in the 19th Century as a public art gallery. It hosts various European paintings from as far back as the 12th Century to the 17th Century. Other art galleries that one can visit include Galleria Nazionale di Palazzo Spinola and Museo dell’ Accademia Ligustica di Belle Arti.

Genoa Aquarium

Another way to kill a few hours in Genoa before getting back on your cruiseship is to visit the aquarium known as Acquario di Genova. The aquarium is the largest in Italy and second largest in Europe. It consists of tanks with different fish species and even penguins, seals and rays.

Churches and Palaces

Other interesting places to visit in Genoa are buildings such as the churches and palaces. These depict a lot of history and culture of the people from earlier times. The city’s Cathedral is known as Cattedrale di San Lorenzo which is built in a Romanesque-Renaissance style. Other churches that one can visit are Church of San Donato, the Oratory of San Giacomo Della Marina, and Church of Santo Stefano amongst others. These churches have rich architectural styles that are beautiful to watch. Perhaps the other interesting place to visit is the Piazza De Ferrari. Around this place are the Opera and the Palace of the Doges. For someone who really appreciates art, then visiting the Palazzo del Principe and the cemetery of Staglieno is a good idea. Here there are beautiful monuments and statues.

Parks

These are other places where one can indulge in to pass time while in Genoa. Right in the heart of the city is the Villetta Di Negro. Others just out of the centre are Parks of Nervi, which overlook the sea giving a good view. Beautiful gardens to the west provide a nice environment where one can take a walk as they breathe the fresh air. The palaces also have their gardens.

Visit a Theatre

While in Genoa, one can visit the various spots that offer theatre and music, to learn more on the music in Genoa. The city is quite conservative in its music with performers maintaining their local dialect in their performances. Such theatres that one can visit include Teatro Carlo Felice or the ancient Abbey of Cervara for music concerts.