What to do in Genoa when it's raining

Good morning!

Have you ever planned a two-days trip when the weather is awful? 

Of course this must have happened to you too: the only couple of days available and it starts to come down cats and dogs… and your children hate walking!

Well nothing is lost if you're thinking over Genoa as an option. Hmm... I know, you'd love to visit the Ligurian coast and you'll certainly imagine it shining and sunny but why not going in autumn or spring? 

There are some attractions open all year long that are cheaper in low season and your children won't get bored for sure.

So we had to look for a hotel and we wanted a convenient solution not far from the city centre. Eventually we booked a room for four at the Novotel Genova City (https://www.guestreservations.com/novotel-genova-city/booking?msclkid=54eb47dd84dd1198f1eb19c6d4977614),  at the cost of about 120 € per night, breakfast included. It had been a suitable and quite comfortable option because they have got a parking underground, which was  a luck.

Anyway, if you're looking for a cooler and more stylish accommodation, consider the comfort of the NH Hotel Genova Marina (https://www.nh-collection.com/it/hotel/nh-collection-genova-marina), just opposite the Aquarium.

Yes, I'm talking about the renowned Aquarium of Genoa, located in the heart of the seaport (https://www.acquariodigenova.it/en), where we spent a delightful morning.

This is the largest aquarium in Europe and offers a variety of experiences, as they have got several packages available.

We went for the simplest one, which includes the visit of the Dolphins and sharks section too. This type of card is at the cost of about 18.00€, depending on availability.

In order not to have surprises, we purchased the ticket online, which allowed us to reserve date and time wished. Here is an animation to show you what's included in the basic ticket.

Our tour lasted about three hours and once outside it was raining. The aquarium was very convenient to spend some hours without worrying about the weather condition, and the proximity to the central area had been an advantage too becuase there had been no need to move the car and could enjoy the surrounding zone.

A few steps away from the Aquarium there's a characteristic reproduction of a galleon, used in Roman Polanski's film "Pirates". If you're going with the children they'll adore it! Moreover, 

in the summer, there's a playground available nearby. In this area there's another unmissable activity: the Galata maritime museum. https://www.galatamuseodelmare.it/?lang=en

Leaving the Aquarium at your back and going rightwards, we reached the ancient harbour of Genoa, a touristic and shopping destination, an uncommon and versatile area created by the Italian architect Renzo Piano where people relax and have a stroll. The most incredible thing about the port is the quantity of luxury boats and yachts docked there. It was fun playing the rich and imagining ourselves in one of them!

As we were hungry and a little on a budget, we opted for the magazzini del cotone, where we had a lunch in one of the chain restaurants available and in the evening enjoyed a ride and the amazing view on the panoramic wheel.

As the city centre wasn't far from here, we figured out to go for a walk under the rain and enjoy Genoa by night.

I must admit it's been a wise decision because the area is worth it, with its charming palaces and churches, but also because the outline of narrow streets make this place unique, fancy and bizarre sometimes.

We weren't intentioned to visit anything special, so we wandered aimlessly around and made a couple of nice discoveries that I suggest you not to miss next time you come to Genoa. One of them is a tour of the churches, as the atmospheare at night is superb. Among them, St Matthew's, the cathedral of St Lawrence and San Pietro in Banchi. http://www.museodiocesanogenova.it/

One of the last things about this two days trip to Genoa is a curiosity: a way to involve the kids in the history of Italy and get lost to appreciate the flavor of such a mysterious city. Look for the cannon balls disseminated all around. They can be found in the most inconceivable spots, from a floor to a wall to a church and a fortress!

There's so much mure to see and discover that I just want to come back again!

… And now… before leaving one final pic for you: the Matitone, the only skyscraper (24 floors only!!!) of the city built in 1992 by the same studio that projected the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.