The hidden Genoa: Boccadasse

A charming fishermen village which inspired singers and poets

Genoa is as a multi centralised city and Boccadasse is a real treasure hidden inside it. If you don’t like clubs and shopping malls, Boccadasse totally fits for you! Here you can enjoy walking along crose de mar, tight streets onshore. The famous italian singer Fabrizio De Andrè used to sing about them.

Here in Boccadasse people love sitting in the main square, in front of Saint Anthony church, and reading a newspaper. On the sea, there are some small houses and a little beach where fishermen leave their boats high and dry. On the street, you have to stop in the historical café, which used to be an artist hangout in the 70s. The famous italian singers Gino Paoli, Bruno Lauzi and Fabrizio De André usually met up there. Here you can find a great selection of liqueurs coming from all over the world, I asked for a special spiced nutmeg ruhm, that I tasted once at the Grenadines islands, in the Caribbean. I drank it for breakfast! Maybe that’s the reason why Boccadasse looked like a paradise to me…

I met different special people, proud to live in this little piece of heaven on earth. The beach café’s owner asked me to sign up a chair, as a souvenir of my time there, he made me feel really at home. I also met a special lady at her balcony, the one who appears in every panoramic picture of Boccadasse!

I had lunch at “Tre Merli” restaurant, a great place just in front of the sea. Hospitality makes Boccadasse so unique! The idea of genoan locals as surly people is just a bias.

Main pic courtesy of Giorgio Minguzzi (Flickr user iz4aks)

Visit Genoa: helpful hints

Italian name: Genova

Arrivals

The Genoa Airport is an international airport, 30 minutes far from the city centre and connected by Volabus (ticket 6€). For transcontinental flight the nearest airport is Malpensa, Milan. From Malpensa, first you have to reach Milan Central Station by train or by bus (the train Malpensa Express leaves every 30 minutes, it takes 50 minutes and costs 13€. The bus Malpensa Shuttle leaves every 20 minutes, it takes 60/70 minutes and costs 10€). Then, there are many trains from Milan Central Station to Genoa, it takes about 1h 30.

Transports

The best way to move around Genoa is by bus. Single ticket 1,5€ for 100 minutes ride. There are many types of tickets, full explained on the A.T.M. Website. A characteristic way of transport you should try is the Funicolare di Sant’Anna (single ticket 0,90€).

What to do

Genoa is the capital city of Liguria region, North Western Italy. From Genoa you can reach many beautiful places on the seaside all along the charming Ligurian Riviera, especially the iconic Portofino. But also the city itself, it is very interesting! The area of the Old Harbour, for exemple, where is the huge Aquarium famous worldwide, and where takes place every September the most important Boat Fair in Italy (and in the Mediterranean area at all) called simply Salone Nautico.

Genoa is precious also for its heritage: Le Strade Nuove and the system of thePalazzi dei Rolli are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You should also see the fishing village of Boccadasse. Plan your trip with Italia Slow Tour tips: watch our web serie about Genoa and discover more about this wonderful city.