I stepped off the plane in Genova, Italy full of excitement and ready to explore a city that I didn’t know much about. I had made my first trip to Italy just a couple of months earlier. I had the opportunity to spend time in Rome on a work assignment and was so happy to be back in this magical country so soon.
Genova is not a city heavily traveled by Americans, and checking out as much as I could in my short one-night stay was my top priority.
My two friends and I arrived in the city early afternoon after a short flight from London. After dropping off our bags at the hotel, we quickly changed, hopped the bus outside of the hotel’s entrance, and made our way to the central area of the city.
The first thing I noticed in this port city was the architecture. While it has that traditional Italian feel, the unique and massive structures are not to be missed.
Lunch at Mercato Orientale
Lunch was our first order of business. We decided to try out the options at the Mercato Orientale, located in the center of the city at Piazza Colombo. The market provided many options: from a variety of bread to cheeses to pasta to wine.
Mercato Orientale was very easy to navigate and each stand had its own specialty. We grabbed a couple of meat options, a block of cheese, and a loaf of bread and made our way to the little wine area of the market to grab a bottle to enjoy with our food.
Exploring the area is always a highlight when I travel. It doesn’t matter where I am, I want to walk around without a map and enjoy the sights and sounds of the area.
My friends and I did some sightseeing around Genova that afternoon, walking from the city’s center to the port and back through some of the more historic areas. One thing that was clear from the moment I stepped off the bus, the buildings in Genova are just beautiful.
When in Italy, Wine is a Must
No trip to any Italian town is complete without a quick stop at a local wine bar. We happened upon one in Piazza Della Stampa, located close to Porto Antico, one of the main ports in the city.
The wine bar was small, with most of the seating outside. It was the perfect stop to refuel for the rest of the day. The crowd was lively and this was clearly a stop for many of the locals once they finished work for the day. It was a delight to just sit and watch everyone while sipping on some vino.
Exploration to End The Day
More exploring throughout the area and a little shopping finished off our afternoon before we stopped into Trattoria Il Grillo Parlante. The quaint restaurant, located in the historic area of Genova, provided some fabulous food and a traditional Italian atmosphere.
This was a perfect way to end our day before we made our way back to the hotel for a night of good sleep. My friends and I had more adventures to come as we made our way on a train down the coastline of the Ligurian Sea.
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