Porto Antico (Old Port)
The first thing you notice is the scale of the old cranes — specifically the Bigo, Renzo Piano's white steel structure that rises like a splayed hand over the waterfront. It was built for Genoa's 1992 Columbian celebrations, and it still lifts a panoramic cabin 40 metres into the air, high enough to take in the Lanterna lighthouse, the terracotta roofline of the medieval centre, and on a clear day the Gulf stretching toward Portofino.
Porto Antico is the reclaimed working port that Genoa turned outward to face again after decades of industrial closure. The Sopraelevata highway had walled the city off from its own waterfront through the 1960s and 70s; Piano's 1984 masterplan stitched it back together, threading new structures between 17th-century customs warehouses and a 1901 cotton depot that still stands at the water's edge.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who come back tend to time the Bigo ride for late afternoon, when the light on the gulf turns copper. The Neptune — a full-scale galleon built for Roman Polanski's 1986 film Pirates and now moored beside the aquarium — is easy to walk past without clocking what it is. Worth a second look. The Biosfera glass sphere, a small tropical greenhouse floating at the waterline, rewards a slow ten minutes inside.
The story behind Porto Antico (Old Port)
The harbour here has been in use since at least the early Middle Ages, when the Consoli del Mare — the city's maritime magistrates — formalised its operations. Around 1250 a rocky spur was extended by landfill to form the Molo Vecchio breakwater, shaping the port's footprint for centuries. The Porta Siberia, the arched customs gateway between port and old town, dates to 1553 and was designed by Galeazzo Alessi. The cotton warehouses followed in 1901 and 1926; the Magazzini Doganali in the 17th century.
The transformation came in the late 1980s, when the city commissioned Genoa-born architect Renzo Piano — then already globally recognised — to redevelop the area ahead of the 1992 BIE Expo marking 500 years since Columbus's voyage. Public investment ran to over 1,000 billion lire. Piano returned again in 2017, donating the design for the Waterfront di Levante extension, completed in 2022, which added a navigable canal, parks, and a 10,000-capacity events building over the former Amico Shipyards.
Good to know
The waterfront area is free to enter at any hour and fully pedestrian. Individual tickets apply for the Aquarium, Bigo, and Biosfera. The Cathedral of San Lorenzo is a five-minute walk via Sottoripa; Piazza De Ferrari about eight. The AMT underground stops at San Giorgio. Spring and early autumn give the best light and the fewest crowds.
Genoa's waterfront is mild through most of the year, but summer afternoons can be humid and the open paving holds heat. Late spring and September offer the clearest views from the Bigo and the most comfortable conditions for walking the full length of the port. Winter is quiet and often grey, though the indoor spaces — Biosfera, Aquarium, Eataly in the Millo building — make it workable.
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What travellers say about Porto Antico (Old Port)
“A beautiful and lively area with stunning sea views, restaurants, and attractions. Perfect for a relaxing walk, taking photos, or enjoying local food. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Genoa.”
Beautiful old port of Genova! Great place to explore and visit the plentiful spots along the length of this area, such as the Acquario Di Genova or Galatea Museo del Mare. There are always some events going on in this area as well such as a food festival or other cultural events outdoor. You can also take the boat tours from here to places along the Ligurian coast. There are plenty of eateries along the Waterfront and port area. The moderate weather here makes it nice for a walks or just to sit on a bench, take in the views and relax, getting some sun or a nice evening breeze.
Beautiful place to watch the boats, grab a meal, take a nice walk along the water, or enjoy an apertivo! My favorite spot in Genoa. There's plenty of restaurants, a book store, an aquarium nearby, and many other things to occupy newcomers. Definitely make a visit if you're in the city!
We recently enjoyed a 10-night Western Mediterranean Cruise on the MSC Lirica sailing from Alicante (cost £420 each in January). The first stop was Genoa and we picked up a free map from the tourist information office located at the entrance to the port. We toured the city by taxi and stopped at the Marina (Porto Antico). The marina was larger than we expected and there was a fantastic promenade with lots of seating and palm trees. The port was packed with attractions including an aquarium, a biosphere dome (tropical fauna and flora, orchids, ferns and ibis' birds), a cinema, shops, boat tours, a Ferris wheel and a maritime museum with a submarine (Galata museo del mares). It was magnificent seeing the pirate ship, Galeone Neptune (replica of the 17th century Spanish galleon). The old cotton warehouses had been converted into art galleries and restaurants. There were lots of places to eat and drink. We had a relaxing time admiring the super yachts and watching the boat trips. It cost just 5€ each to use the Bigo Lift. From the viewing pod we had 360-degree views of the city. Further information on the port is available on the Google site What's in Port (cruise guide for 1200 ports). There is so much to do and see in Genoa that I would recommend using the 'hop on hop off' tourist bus (meeting point is at Piazza Caricamento Acquario) or joining an organised walking city tour which takes about 3 hours. The city centre is defined by steep narrow streets and historical buildings including palaces and museums at every turn. Some of the attractions of the city include Christopher Columbus house, Boccadasse (former fishing village), Giuseppe Garibaldi, the San Lorenzo Cathedral, Museo della Storia del Genoa, Palazzo di San Giorgio (palace) and D'Albertis Castle.
Beautiful place to visit the old port city of Genoa, Experience the historical churches and palaces.
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