Things to Do in Genoa, Italy: Walking Guide

Genoa is a historic port city set between the Ligurian Sea and the Apennine hills, once the powerful maritime republic known as La Superba. Its layered past is visible in grand palaces, narrow caruggi lanes, and a bustling harbour that still links the city to Mediterranean trade. Neywo offers a free audio guide for Genoa with 69 narrated places, letting you explore at your own pace.

Exploring Genoa’s Historic Palaces and Sites

Palazzo Rosso

Located on Via Garibaldi 18, Palazzo Rosso—often called the “Red Palace”—is a historic house museum and part of the UNESCO World Heritage site “Genoa: Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli.” Built between 1671 and 1677 for the Brignole Sale brothers, its terracotta‑red façade gives the building its name, while inside you’ll find period furnishings and an impressive painting collection.

Royal Palace of Genoa

Also known as Palazzo Reale or Palazzo Stefano Balbi, this palace forms part of the UNESCO‑listed 42 Palazzi dei Rolli, inscribed in 2006. The complex combines the historic residence, an attached garden, and a pinacoteca that holds one of Genoa’s main painting collections. Its interiors showcase preserved Genoese Baroque decoration, including frescoes, stucco, paintings, and furnishings.

Palazzo Bianco

Referred to as the “White Palace,” Palazzo Bianco sits among the 42 Rolli palaces and earned UNESCO status in 2006. Originally erected between 1530 and 1540 for Luca Grimaldi, it received its pale‑stucco façade during an early‑18th‑century redesign. After the Duchess of Galliera donated the building and her art collection in 1884, it opened as a public gallery in 1892 and was restored after World War II by Franco Albini. The gallery spans 47 exhibition rooms and features European paintings from the 15th to the 18th centuries, with works by Filippino Lippi, Paolo Veronese, Caravaggio, and other masters.

Doge’s Palace

The Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) once housed the government of the Republic of Genoa, serving as the Doges’ residence from 1339 to 1797. Today it operates as a museum and cultural venue. Its architecture layers Gothic foundations, Renaissance elegance, and a Neoclassical façade added by Simone Cantoni after the 1777 fire. Notable elements include towers, loggias, internal courtyards, and the Grimaldina prison tower. The palace hosted the 2001 G8 congress and, after restoration in the early 1990s for the 500th anniversary of Columbus, became Genoa’s premier cultural hub.

Palazzo Baldassarre Lomellini (Palazzo Doria Tursi)

Standing on Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, this imposing residence began in 1565 as a project by banker Niccolò Grimaldi, who combined three properties into one large home. Architects Domenico and Giovanni Ponzello created a commanding façade and a dramatic double‑arched courtyard, blending Genoese Renaissance with Mannerist flair. By 1597 the palace passed to Giovanni Andrea Doria, who added Baroque touches such as street‑facing loggias and a richly decorated marble portal.

Palazzo Ambrogio Di Negro

Also called Palazzo Ambrogio De Nigro, this palace is one of the 42 Rolli palaces inscribed by UNESCO in 2006. It preserves an important Mannerist painting cycle inside. Directly in front lie the Loggia dei Mercanti and the Church of San Pietro in Banchi, while the building’s address is Via S. Luca 2 with a secondary narrow four‑bay façade facing Piazza Banchi.

Palazzo Doria Spinola

Located in largo Eros Lanfranco 1, Palazzo Doria Spinola (also Palazzo Antonio Doria) is another Rolli palace designated for hosting high‑ranking guests. Its façade features an elegant marble portal framed by statues and topped with the Doria‑Spinola coat of arms. Inside, a square‑plan entrance courtyard with double loggias leads to frescoed walls and intricate stucco. The interior boasts lavish rooms, including a hall inspired by the Vatican Gallery of Maps that celebrates the Doria family’s naval and strategic achievements.

Palazzo Podestà (Palazzo Nicolosio Lomellino)

Found at Via Garibaldi, number 7, this palace served during the Republic of Genoa as one of the Rolli residences assigned to host visiting dignitaries on behalf of the state. It was more than a private home; it formed part of the official reception system for important guests.

Palazzo Cosmo Centurione

Set at Via Lomellini 8, Palazzo Cosmo Centurione is among the 42 Rolli palaces gaining UNESCO recognition in 2006. Also known as Palazzo Cosma Centurione or Palazzo Durazzo Pallavicini, the building displays Genoese Baroque character through its architecture and the frescoes preserved within its rooms.

San Luca (Church)

The Church of San Luca, located on the square of the same name in the Maddalena district, dates back to 1188 when it was founded by Oberto Spinola. Rebuilt between 1626 and 1650 in the Baroque style under Bartolomeo Bianco, the church features a Greek‑cross plan with a bright central dome. The dome and interior walls are adorned with vivid frescoes by Domenico Piola, enhanced by illusionistic architectural details.

Gio Agostino Balbi Palace

Situated on Via Balbi 1, the Gio Agostino Balbi Palace (Palazzo G. Agostino Balbi) is another Rolli residence. During the Genoese Republic it was designated to host high‑ranking guests on behalf of the government during state visits.

Palazzo Spinola Giorgio

Located on Salita di Santa Caterina 4, Palazzo Spinola Giorgio is one of the 42 Rolli palaces inscribed by UNESCO in 2006. A short distance away, Palazzo Spinola Tommaso (also Palazzo Spinola Pessagno) on Salita di Santa Caterina 3 shares the same UNESCO status and Rolli designation.

Palazzo Stefano Lomellini (Palazzo Lomellini‑Doria Lamba)

At Via Cairoli 18, in the heart of the city, Palazzo Stefano Lomellini served as a Rolli palace for hosting visiting officials during the Republic of Genoa. Its position underscores its role in the city’s official hospitality network.

Palazzo Bartolomeo Lomellino

Found at Largo della Zecca 4 in the historic centre, this palace is also part of the Rolli system, assigned to receive high‑ranking guests on behalf of the Genoese government during state visits.

Palazzo Balbi Giacomo e Pantaleo

This standout palace in the city centre is notable for its connection to the Rolli palaces and its UNESCO World Heritage status, granted in 2006 as part of the “Genoa: Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli.” The building is celebrated for its architecture and an extensive cycle of frescoes inside, marking it as one of the most important monuments of Genoese Baroque.

Experience Genoa with Neywo

Neywo’s free audio guide lets you discover Genoa’s sights at your own pace, with no group and no schedule. The app offers five walking tours, one bus route, and one bike route in Genoa:

• Via Garibaldi: the Palazzi dei Rolli – 0.59 km, 112 minutes, 12 stops
• Via Balbi and the Royal Palace – 0.87 km, 109 minutes, 12 stops
• The Cathedral, the Doge’s Palace and Columbus’s house – 1.68 km, 111 minutes, 12 stops
• Palazzo Spinola and the old port lanes – 1.12 km, 100 minutes, 12 stops
• Via Balbi and the Royal Palace – 1.2 km, 149 minutes, 15 stops
• Line 20: De Ferrari to the Royal Palace and Villa del Principe (bus) – 3.5 km, 15 minutes, 9 stops
• Seafront to Port: From Boccadasse to the Aquarium (bike) – 5.7 km, 29 minutes, 6 stops

Each narrated story plays automatically as you reach a location, allowing you to linger or move on as you wish. Download Neywo, plug in your headphones, and let the city’s history unfold step by step.