Porto antico, Historical seaport in central Genoa, Italy.
Porto Antico is a historical seaport in central Genoa where boats of different sizes dock along piers and the waterfront area includes a modern marina. The space unfolds along the water with buildings, public areas, and pathways that guide visitors through the bustling port setting.
The port grew from the city's need to control maritime trade, becoming the engine that made Genoa prosperous during the medieval period. For centuries, it remained the point where ships and goods passed through, linking the city to distant lands.
The name reflects the port's role in connecting the city to the sea for centuries, and today visitors see locals moving through the space naturally, stopping for meals or strolls as if the waterfront were simply part of their routine.
The area is easy to walk through with clear pathways and plenty of places to sit, eat, and rest along the way. To learn more about the boats and the water, guided tours are available for those who want to explore beyond the main promenade.
In the middle of the port stands a distinctive glass dome designed by a renowned Italian architect that houses tropical plants and various animals in a controlled environment. This unexpected green space surrounded by water and boats has become a quiet spot that draws visitors seeking a break from the busier areas nearby.
Location: Genoa
Part of: Port of Genoa
GPS coordinates: 44.41040,8.92420
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:02
Liguria stretches as a narrow coastal strip between the Maritime Alps and the Apennines, combining maritime tradition with mountainous interior. Along the Riviera di Ponente in the west lie towns such as Dolceacqua with its medieval Doria Castle, the fortified town of Noli, and the Hanbury Botanical Gardens near La Mortola. The Riviera di Levante in the east features the Cinque Terre National Park with its coastal villages, Portofino with Castello Brown, and the Baia del Silenzio in Sestri Levante. Finalborgo preserves its medieval structure within the walls of Finale Ligure, while Vernazza with the Church of Santa Margherita d'Antiochia above the harbor belongs to the Cinque Terre. Inland valleys such as Valle Argentina lead to mountain villages that have maintained their historic architecture. Triora sits at 2,559 feet (780 meters) in the Ligurian Alps, Apricale displays stone alleys and vaulted passages, and Cervo perches above the coast between Imperia and Alassio. Bussana Vecchia was abandoned after an 1887 earthquake and later resettled by artists. Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena clusters around a medieval fortress. The Grotte di Toirano and Borgio Verezzi Caves offer geological formations with stalactites and stalagmites. Montemarcello-Magra Regional Park extends between the coast at Montemarcello and the Magra Valley, while Palmaria Island lies off Portovenere with the Doria Tower. Genoa's Porto Antico connects the historic harbor with modern cultural facilities.
Genoa blends Renaissance architecture with views of the sea and mountains rising behind the city. In the streets of the old town, palaces from the 16th and 17th centuries stand with frescoed interiors and marble portals. The harbor stretches along the coast, where old cranes sit beside modern museums. From elevated points like Spianata di Castelletto, you see across the rooftops to the water, while the alleys of the center hold churches, squares, and covered galleries.
Aquarium of Genoa
185 m
Neptune
237 m
Palazzo San Giorgio
394 m
Nazario Sauro
343 m
Walls of Genoa
370 m
The Biosphere
120 m
Grande Bigo of Genoa
259 m
Via del Campo 29 Rosso
397 m
Colonna infame (Genoa)
395 m
Entrepôts de coton
331 m
San Marco al Molo
379 m
Museo della Storia del Genoa
356 m
San Pancrazio
405 m
San Sisto
410 m
Santa Fede
393 m
Museo Emanuele Luzzati
274 m
Palazzo Durazzo-Cattaneo Adorno
368 m
Palazzo Lomellini-Serra
360 m
Palazzo Marc'Aurelio Rebuffo
399 m
Palazzo Pinelli-Parodi
388 m
Palazzo Adorno
424 m
Fondazione Genoa 1893
363 m
Palazzo Bartolomeo Invrea
357 m
Palazzo Pallavicini Fabiani
354 m
Palazzo Antonio Doria Invrea
394 m
Porta del Molo
273 m
National Museum of Antarctica - seat of Genoa
349 m
Monument to Raffaele Rubattino
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