Grande Bigo of Genoa, Cable-stayed elevator structure in Old Port, Genoa, Italy

The Bigo is a cable-stayed steel structure in Genoa's Old Port, made of a central inclined mast and seven white tubular-steel arms that fan out, with thin cables radiating between them. Its two longest arms support the tensile canopy over Piazza delle Feste, a roof of five PTFE-coated fibreglass panels held by sixteen cables and curved ribs. A rotating panoramic elevator cabin, built by Sabiem, rises to 40 metres.

Architect Renzo Piano designed this structure for the 1992 International Exhibition as part of a broader project to remake the old port into a modern public space. The renovation brought new vitality to Genoa's waterfront and transformed how people used the historic harbor area.

The name refers to traditional harbor cranes that once worked at this port, linking the modern structure to Genoa's seafaring past. Visitors can still sense this maritime connection when observing the vessel traffic below from above.

Access is straightforward from the Old Port, in an area that is easy to walk around. Visit in the morning or early afternoon for fewer crowds and the best natural light to see the port and sea below.

The structural calculations were made by Ove Arup & Partners under Peter Rice, who had earlier worked with Piano on the Centre Pompidou in Paris. The masts were tested in a wind tunnel at the University of Bristol, and the whole structure uses about 400 tonnes of steel and 3 kilometres of cables.