After a great time in Milano and a brief night in Valenza, I hopped on a train to Genova, a city that wasn't initially on my itinerary. All I knew about Genova was its reputation for fantastic focaccia and that there was a rental car waiting for me. I managed to book a room at Ostello Bello, conveniently located 5 min away from the train station. I quickly checked in and set out to explore the city with just 18 hours to spare. I first headed to the waterfront, where I spotted the "Galeone Neptune" built in 1985 for Roman Polanski's film Pirates (thanks wikipedia).

Continuing my stroll, I saw "Bigo," an elevator offering stunning 360-degree views of the port and the city skyline—I couldn't resist taking a ride. Palazzo San Giorgio (bottom left of the picture) caught my attention with its beautiful fresco decoration on its façade.

I kept wandering along the Porto antico, where I passed the aquarium and caught sight of the intriguing glass dome of the Biosfera from a distance.

I stopped by sporadically to have a drink or a little appetizer, but after all that walking, I was ready for a proper meal and had heard that Genova had amazing seafood, so I ventured into the city. Walking around the alleys of the city made me want to listen to this song to remind myself to be present in that moment. It also reminded me a little of Barcelona's gothic neighborhood.

After many twist and turns, I reached my destination "La Cantina Clandestina." The food was absolutely delicious!

Dinner for one at La Cantina Clandestina

The next day, in search of a breakfast spot with a view, I ventured out to enjoy my newfound favorite: a cappuccino and a brioche.

While enjoying my breakfast, I almost didn't notice the unusual sight—crazy, because a submarine is hard to miss (pun not intended). "Could that be... it is, it is a submarine!" Intrigued, I went to take a closer look.

And just like that, my time in Genova came to a quick end. After breakfast, I stocked up on a different variety of amazing focaccias for the road. Then, I picked up my Fiat 500, perfect for navigating Italy's small towns, though not the most comfortable ride when driving on highways. After adjusting the seat, mirrors, and the radio with my killer playlist, I set course for Rome. Leaving Genova by car proved challenging; I took the wrong turn three times, each time paying a toll. Finally, on my fourth attempt, I merged into the right lane and was en route to Rome to meet a friend I've known since kindergarten. I tried to detour to Cinque Terre, but the road was closed due to heavy tourist traffic.

So, I continued straight to Rome, where I learned that it's best to leave the car parked and take a train into the city to avoid traffic, lack or parking spots and traffic tickets....

In this link are all the places I visited during my time in Genova and some that I'll visit next time 🤩

Make sure to check all the pictures and videos on my instagram 📸🎥

Road-tripping Italia IV

Road-tripping Italia V

Road-tripping Italia III