Fehlhaber.com's Vacation 2001

Genoa is Italy's most important commercial port, and the birthplace of Columbus. It was founded in the 4th century BC, and is believed to have derived its name from the Latin ianua (door). A key Roman port, it later became a mercantile power, although often subject to the domination of others. Genoa was occupied by the French in 774, the Sarcens in the 10th century, and even by the Milanese in 1353. A famous victory over Venice in 1298 led to a period of rapid growth, but quarrels between the royal families of the city - the Grimaldis, the Dorias, and the Spinolas - caused much internal disruption. Genoa reached its peak in the 16th century under the rule of imperial admiral Andrea Doria, and managed to benefit from Spain's American fortunes by financing Spanish exploration.

Coinciding happily with the Renaissance, Genoa's golden age lasted into the 17th century and produced innumerable magnificent palaces and great works of art. The feverish activity attracted masters of the caliber of Rubens, Caravaggio, and Van Dyck. Gleazzo Alessi (1512-72), who designed many of the city's splendid buildings is ranked with Andrea Palladio.

With the exploration of the New World, the importance of the Mediterranean declined, so too did Genoa's fortunes. Genoa was the first northern Italian city to rise against the Germans and the Italian Fascist towards the close of World War II, liberating itself before the arrival of Allied troops. After the war, the city expanded rapidly along the coast. But after the boom years of the 1960's, it began to decline as big industry folded and port activity dropped.