AQUARIUM, OLD TOWN AND DE ANDRÈ GENOESE SINGER FAVOURITE PLACES - TRIP CODE: GOATOURAQ
8 days 7 nights
1st day: Arrival
You arrive in Genoa in the late afternoon, with the first evening dedicated to hotel accommodation. Free dinner and overnight.
2nd day: Genoa and De Andrè
The morning starts with breakfast at the hotel, then meeting with the guide and day dedicated to the discovery of the favourite places in Genoa of De Andrè, a very important genoese singer. The itinerary begins with a visit to Via del Campo, which gives its title to one of his most famous songs, for a stop at the Cantautori Museums, at number 29 red, one of the key places in De Andrè's Genoa. It was once the music shop of his friend Gianni Tassio and today it has been transformed into a museum dedicated to the singer-songwriter, his friends and colleagues from Genoa, including Luigi Tenco. The museum is also home to the Genoa Club "Fabrizio De André" (possible internal visit based on opening hours). The tour then continues through part of the characteristic La Maddalena district, once animated by brothels and port prostitutes, who came to life in the most emblematic characters of De André's songs. You can then taste some of the authentic local delicacies, among the historical places mentioned in the famous piece "Shipwreck of London Valour".
The story of Faber echoes in the arcades of Sottoripa, where in the 1950s De André used to go to the Ragno Verde club with his friend Paolo Villaggio, mentioned in the novel "A ridiculous fate". After Sottoripa, an ancient medieval area, a stop on a bench of the celebratory “Creuza de Mä”, will allow us to admire the evocative Old Port of Genoa and imagine Faber holding the recorder to the shouting of the fishmongers of the fish market, for in the recording of the famous piece “Creuza de Mä”. We go back into the alleys to get to Piazza Cinque Lampadi, where Gaggero was based, a historic music store and rehearsal room used by De Andrè. The history of Genoese music passed from Gaggero: the New Trolls, the Ricchi e Poveri, the Matia Bazar, the Delirium, Ivano Fossati, Bruno Lauzi, Gino Paoli. We continue to finally arrive in Piazza De Ferrari, the heart of the city, in front of the Palazzo Ducale, you will see the Carlo Felice Opera House, on whose stage the Genoese singer-songwriter held the memorable concert on Christmas Eve in 1997. Near Piazza de Ferrari is located in Via XX Settembre, the main street in the centre. During the first years of his apprenticeship, Fabrizio performed there in a place called La Borsa di Arlecchino. The itinerary in the footsteps of Fabrizio De André continues with a visit to the Latteria Igea, at the corner of Via Cecchi and Via Casaregis, which Gino Paoli remembers in one of his songs: the Four friends at the bar were Paoli, Fabrizio, Tenco, and the lyricist Riccardo Mannerini, who lived in the bar building, and from whose poems songs like The song of the drug addicts were born.
Free lunch. In the afternoon, transfer by private car to the Sant'Ilario district, which will offer an exceptional view of Genoa. Here we can find the old railway station of Bocca di Rosa, and a book-shaped sculpture, on which we can read an acrostic dedicated to the protagonist of one of Faber's most loved songs. Genoa is in the music, but also a lot in the life of the esteemed singer-songwriter, among the aromas and flavours of the arcades of Sottoripa, between fry shops and historic grocery stores, where you can still taste "A cimma", the traditional meat-based dish of veal and vegetables, to which he dedicated a song in dialect. Stop on the way back to visit the outside of Villa Bombrini Paradiso, where the family lived for a period, passing through Boccadasse, a place that De Andrè loved very much. Possible visit during the day to the Carignano's Basilica (where the funeral was celebrated). Free dinner. Overnight at the hotel.
3rd day: Portofino and the Gulf of Tigullio
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer by your own means to Rapallo.
Guided tour of Rapallo, one of the pearls of the Gulf of Tigullio. Located in a magnificent position and of very ancient origin, the old town, full of shops, bars and restaurants, is formed by the typical Ligurian alleys, while the seaside is characterized by elegant liberty cafes. At the end, the visit continues to Santa Margherita Ligure, elegant resort, with houses with bright colors, facades "trompe l'oeil" and hotels in Art Nouveau style.
Free lunch. In the afternoon the guided tour continues by boat to San Fruttuoso, a small fishing village that houses the beautiful ancient Abbey and then again to Portofino.
In a beautiful bay, the ancient "Portus Delphini", was once a quiet fishing village. Its tall and colorful houses overlooked the famous square in a semicircle. In the 50s it became an internationally renowned tourist resort, still retaining all its refined charm. Free time for shopping in the elegant boutiques and for the consumption of a delicious ice cream in the famous Piazzetta.
Return to Santa Margherita Ligure by boat. Free dinner. Overnight at the hotel.
4th day: Ancient Port and Aquarium in Genoa
Breakfast at the hotel and free visit to the famous Genoa Aquarium.
It’s the largest Italian aquarium, first in Europe for animal species! It will be possible to live the extraordinary experience of a walk among dolphins, sharks and hundreds of other species that populate the seas of the planet.
Free lunch and afternoon available for individual visits and shopping in the streets of the city.
We recommend the optional visit of the Galata Sea Museum, always in the Porto Antico area, the largest maritime museum in the Mediterranean, which stands out for its quality and innovation, for the identification in the life of sailors, passengers and migrants, of yesterday and today. It will also be possible to board the Submarine Nazario Sauro, the first museum ship in Italy to be visited in the water. Free dinner. After this long day return to the hotel for the overnight stay.
5th day: The Cinque Terre Park
Breakfast at the hotel and departure by your own means to La Spezia.
Panoramic road on one of the most beautiful Italian coasts, admiring Riomaggiore from the top. Meeting with the guide and descent to Manarola, perched on a steep promontory of dark rock, with its small port enclosed between two rocky spurs.
Boat from Manarola to Monterosso and walk in the suggestive village, the most visited, mainly for its wide sandy beach. The old town, separated from the more modern resort area by the Aurora tower, hosts the ruins of a medieval castle and the church of San Francesco, where it is possible to admire an important painting by Van Dyck depicting the crucifixion.
Free lunch. In the afternoon move to Levanto, pesto workshop with description and preparation of Genoese Pesto in the mortar, taste of the pesto produced with the modern method and comparison with the preparation by hand with plenty of explanations, possibility of purchase and shipment. Return to Genoa by your own means. Free dinner and overnight at the hotel.
6th day: Genoa between taste and art
Breakfast at the hotel and a free journey through art and history in the Strada Nuova Museums, the magnificent Palazzo Rosso, Bianco and Tursi (UNESCO World Heritage Site), built from the mid-sixteenth century, in the golden age of Genoese finance and commerce. Through richly decorated rooms, you will discover the precious art collection, with works by Veronese, Van Dyck, Caravaggio, Rubens, Canova and others. A visit through 3 centuries of masterpieces, until the nineteenth century, with the precious Violin by Paganini. Do not miss also "Genoa in a glance": with the elevator of Palazzo Rosso you can go up to the Miradore, panoramic terrace, to embrace 360 degrees the wonderful view of the roofs of the city. Free lunch.
In the afternoon visit to the Genoa Oriental Market, a space that contains a philosophy of diverse hospitality and offers cooking classes and tastings. Free dinner and overnight at the hotel.
7th day: Genoa from the top and Boccadasse
Breakfast at the hotel and guided tour of the city of Genoa.
After a short walk, you will take the funicular to reach the upper part of the city. In this way it will be possible to enter the oasis of peace that surrounds an Ancient Pharmacy of the 700, where the friars still produce medicinal products with natural products. It will be just an eccentric friar who will accompany the group in the beautiful cloister and inside the pharmacy, as well as in its shop. Tasting of balsamic candies, rose syrup and other self-produced pleasures available. At the end you will arrive in Spianata Castelletto , from where you can enjoy the best view of Genoa from the top, and from where you can get off in the city center through a suggestive pedestrian creuza.
Free lunch and afternoon available for individual activities.
We therefore recommend the charming village of Boccadasse, where you can take an aperitif and enjoy the sunset in one of the most beautiful corners of Genoa! Free dinner and overnight at the hotel.
8th day: Departure
Breakfast at the hotel and departure for the return journey.
