Genoa

June 11, 2015

1. Genoa is the capital of Liguria, Italy's greatest port and the birthplace of Christopher Columbus.

While riding on the bus by the Port we saw a cruise ship docked and crushed deeply on one side. It was the cruise ship that hit a rock in 2012, sank and killed 32 people. They will scrap this wrecked boat that cost $500 million!

2. Back in the middle of the 16th century, a number of patrician families decided to erect their residences on a street away from the historic center, now known as Garibaldi St., the street of palazzos.

Walking between Garibaldi St. and old town there were prostitutes working; one we walked by was old, fat, in a black tight strapless shirt dress, made-up excessively and smoking and coughing as she sat in a chair waiting for a customer. Right out of the movies.

3. Palazzo Ducale, formerly Palace of the Doges, built in the 13th century has lots of opulent, exaggerated, and fancy things as you can see.

4. Peter Paul Rubens painted this in 1606.
Mussolini had it sold to Hitler for his personal museum in Linz.

If you read The Monuments Men or saw the movie, you may know we are indebted to those art historians and conservators for saving and returning art to the owners.

5. Palazzo Spinola National Gallery was
built at end of 16th century by the Grimaldi family and then acquired by the Spinola family. It's original interior decoration has been preserved on two floors.

A trio was rehearsing for a concert as we walked through: cello, violin and piano. The music evoked another age as we walked through. Wonderful, wonderful.

6. Cattedrale di San Lorenzo, built in the 12th century has a Gothic facade; the design on the exterior is very different with stripes as well.

The strict dress code is no shorts and shoulders covered. Some students had scarves wrapped over their shorts.

We had only a day here in Genoa.