Piazza Raffaele De Ferrari is the vibrant heart of Genoa, a grand open square where the city’s historic grandeur meets its modern energy. Anchored by its iconic bronze fountain—whose cascading arcs of water shimmer day and night—the piazza sits at the crossroads of Genoa’s most important landmarks, from the ornate Palazzo Ducale to the elegant Teatro Carlo Felice and the stately Palazzo della Regione. Lined with 19th-century buildings and buzzing with locals, students, and visitors, it’s the perfect place to feel Genoa’s unique mix of old-world elegance and contemporary life.
Piazza Raffaele de Ferrari
City: Genoa
Region: Liguria
About the Region:
Liguria, the slender crescent of coastline stretching between the French border and Tuscany, is one of Italy’s most distinctive regions—an intoxicating blend of sea, mountains, and centuries-old traditions squeezed into a landscape where everything feels both dramatic and intimate. Known internationally for the postcard-perfect villages of the Cinque Terre, Liguria is far more varied than its most famous stretch: rugged cliffs plunge into turquoise water, terraced hillsides shimmer with olive groves and vineyards, and pastel towns cling improbably to sheer rock faces. The regional capital, Genoa, adds a completely different energy—a gritty, historic port city filled with medieval alleyways, noble palaces, and a maritime spirit that once powered an empire. Along the Riviera di Levante, elegant towns such as Portofino, Santa Margherita, and Camogli offer a refined, yacht-polished version of coastal life, while the western Riviera di Ponente leans toward a sunny, slower rhythm, with palm-lined promenades in Sanremo, Bordighera, and Alassio echoing a 19th-century resort heritage. Ligurian cuisine is simple but unforgettable, shaped by the land’s natural limitations: basil turned into fragrant pesto, chickpea flour baked into golden farinata, and focaccia ranging from salty and soft to the addictive cheese-filled Recco style. Inland, quiet medieval villages, chestnut forests, and green valleys provide an unexpected contrast to the glamorous coast, revealing a region that has always balanced seafaring with sturdy mountain life. In Liguria, the distances are short, but the experiences are layered—every bend in the road reveals another view, another village, another way the sea meets the mountains in a landscape that never stops surprising.