Monuments to visit Genoa

The bigo was a metal crane once used on the decks of cargo ships to lift goods. In 1992, Renzo Piano took up the concept and made it the symbol of Porto Antico. A useful symbol, since it is also used to support the tent in the nearby festival square. A rotating panoramic elevator takes you to the very top of this large, upside-down spider at a height of 40 m, offering one of the finest views of Genoa and the sea. You'll get two full turns, so you'll be able to see the whole panorama.

This spherical construction of glass and steel was designed by Renzo Piano. The transparent ball can be seen from the harbour and is located at the Aquarium exit. Inside, it is a recreation of a tropical forest, in all its beauty and fragility. There are several rare plant species, such as the giraffe acacia and the coffee and cocoa tree. But also an emblematic fauna: fish, insects, butterflies, birds, reptiles and amphibians. An exotic visit where nature and architecture evolve in total symbiosis.

Standing just a few metres from the church of Santa Maria di Castello, this beautiful tower, set between other buildings, belonged to the powerful Embriaci family. It is the only tower to have escaped the ordinance of 1296, which imposed a reduction in the height of all buildings in the city: most probably thanks to a favor granted to the Embriaci family for their many loyal services to the Republic. 41 m high, its rusticated surface is covered with exposed stone and its top is crowned with arches.