By Tatyana Kogut

Genoa… From his high pedestal Christopher Columbus observes the sea, trying to find the place where, beyond thousands of miles, there lays his greatest discovery and the lands of Central and South America. Genoa citizens solicitously keep the memory of their great compatriot: still, you can find the house in which Columbus was born and where he spent his life and there are always fresh flowers by the foot of the monument.

Lagoon is the favourite place for the citizens where they can spend their free time, and if you come here in the evening, you will see an impressive sight: the full-length copy of the Columbus`s caravel is shining in the rays of searchlights. The lagoon was projected by talented architects: here`s one of the world`s biggest aquariums located, and ten steps further there is the skating rink that never melts, so you can see young men and women in beach outfits.

Use the noiseless lift to raise only several dozens of meters higher and what you`ll see will make you totally breathless: below there are soft curves of the Ligurian coast while there are Apennine tops above you against the background of the bright blue sky. Palaces, museums, great arches, living quarters built with a refined taste, wide squares and narrow streets are all crowded between the coast and the mountains.

Go along the Genoa streets and squares. In every corner there are historic signs and on every turn you will find the traces of glorious deeds accomplished by the previous generations. On one of the castles you will find the board that says that in XII century Genoa citizens were fighting against Frederick Barbarossa forces here. The high relief plots on the Garibaldi monument will tell you how 700 years later battalion that belonged to the great Italian walked along the Genoa streets`

Genoa is the city that will definitely enchant you and will make you fall in love with it. The weather is mild here all year round. Even at Christmas time the city is filled up with light and the temperature is as high as 15 degrees centigrade. The Columbus` homeland is safe from cold winds while the sea gives its tender warmth to it. But it is not only the caress of the sea that Genoa lived in. The sign on the marble arch reminds you of the terrifying Second World War times: “the native land for its children who were fighting on the land, on the sea and in the sky“

Local airport is also a unique thing as its runway goes close to the sea, so when the plane is rising into the sky you can imagine yourself on a hydroplane.

But lets turn back to the city`s streets, the square in front of the Museum of Art. Here, on the advertisement board, you can see colourful pictures of the frescos that were created by the masters of the past. A woman and a man dressed in ancient clothes, musicians` These people lived here five hundred years ago. They loved their city while the artists loved these people who were their models at the same time. The artists left us the images of faces, movements and even feelings that belonged to our ancestors.

And you can be totally sure that there`s more than enough of dynamics, fun and active intercourse on Genoa`s streets. Here`s an actor performs in front of children. They know the plot by heart but, anyway, they meet every remark with shouts of joy. Mothers and fathers are also in raptures over this. Genoa is truly a wonderful place which will never lose its fascination.

About the author: Find you accommodation on http://www.nbportal.com/travel-destinations/italy/genoa/
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rex

The Cinque Terre (pronounced CHEEN-kweh TEHR-reh) is an eleven mile stretch of steep, rocky coastline on the oh-so-blue Tyrrhenian sea in northwest Italy.

Cinqueterre, which means “five lands” in Italian, is a poetic way of describing five small villages along the world’s most picturesque sweep of ocean shore.

The cinque villagi built into the rocky hillside are Manarola, Monterosso al Mare, Riomaggiore, Corniglia and Vernazza.

You can walk from one seaside hamlet to another using century old footpaths that wind through vineyards and chestnut groves.

ITALY FOR THE PHYSICALLY FIT

If you like the outdoors and are in excellent physically condition then this is the corner of Italy for you. You can hike in the green hills and swim and snorkel in the sparkling blue ocean.

A WORLD HERITAGE SITE, A NATIONAL PARK AND A MARINE PROTECTED AREA!

Because of the uniqueness of the Cinque Terre, it has been named by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. (UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.)

The area has also been designated a National Park to protect the characteristic landscape. The Cinque Terre National Park is actively involved in recovering and maintaining abandoned terraces.

In 1997 the waters of the Cinque Terre were made a Marine Protected Area to safeguard the diverse range of animals and vegetation that are present, including several rare types of coral.

HIKING

To hike in Cinque Terre, you must get a hiking permit at one of the little booths along the hiking trails. I recommend getting the Cinque Terre Card, a ticket that includes train travel, hiking and the bus at Corniglia. It costs €12.- for 3 days. Money collected will be used for wall, terrace, and trail repair. (And you can go home knowing you made a permanent contribution to Cinque Terre society.) You’ll get a map of the walking trails with the card, which you can also purchase at any rail station in the Cinque Terre.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The weather is pleasant and warm from Easter until the end of October. However, if you want the place to yourself or, at least, just you and the locals, then the best time to visit is before the tourist deluge hits in mid May or after it ends in mid September. As Rick Steves said, “That quaint little village ain’t so quaint when the tour bus pulls up.” Note: Steves’ quote was modified slightly by this writer because ain’t rhymes with quaint and ain’t it just a little bit better that way?.

ADVICE FROM TWO OF CINQUE TERRE’S BIGGEST FANS

Here’s advice from Adrian who maintains a popular Cinque Terre website:

“I recommend taking the local train to Monterosso and walking to the next two or three towns. The hike is steep and rugged at first but gets better as you get past town #3. [Whew! I'm tired already] The walk from Manarola (#4) to Riomaggiore (#5) is really easy. [It's about time.] There are daily boat trips from Monterosso along the coast, stopping at some of the villages. Make sure you catch it before the last one of the day leaves. [Now that's some good travel advice!] Even if you miss it you can still take the train back. [Good to have a back up plan.]) Take the boat all the way to Portovenere and get the bus to La Spezia.”

Thanks Adrian!

Dan Wood wrote: “My overall description of Cinque Terre: Vertical towns. Expect a cardiovascular workout; this is not a town for people who spend all their time in a car or on the sofa. [That would be moi.] There is also a scuba diving operation in Riomaggiore.”

Personally, I’ll skip the scuba and head straight for the trattoria.

And thank you Dan!

TOURIST OFFICE

For more useful information about the area visit The Cinque Terre tourist office in Monterosso al Mare,
in Piazza Colombo.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

John Vittoe, Paul Sullivan, Dan Wood and Adrian Vingreyerz for their contributions that made this post possible.

Rex Bush handles personal injury cases in Utah. For info on injury issues visit his website: Personal Injury Utah. Should you hire an injury lawyer? Visit this page: Utah Injury Lawyer.

More about Liguria:
Discover even more about what Venice has to offer and find out what your fellow travellers think of the city here:
http://www.italytravelnotes.com/category/liguria/