In the city of Genoa (Genova), a port city and the capital of northwest Italy's Liguria region

 "By prevailing over all obstacles and distractions, one may unfailingly arrive at his chosen goal or destination. -- Christopher Columbus

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(in the center of the Italian Riviera) Genoa, Italy's largest seaport in this city is known for the many beautiful buildings it houses -- which provide many examples of Renaissance, Baroque, and Gothic architecture. Aside from this, the city is also known for embodying its maritime traditions that guests can witness when they visit.

+ Located about 75 miles (120 km) south of Milan on the Gulf of Genoa, the city occupies a narrow coastal plain and the western slopes of the Apennine Range. In part, due to its mild Mediterranean climate, shipbuilding is Genoa's major industry, which helps to make it a major center for finance and commerce. The port of Genoa leads all other Italian ports in volume of passengers and freight traffic and is the main source of city income. It handles imports chiefly of coal, crude oil, and grain and exports mainly of cotton and silk textiles, olive oil, and wine.

+ Genoa was the birthplace of Christopher Columbus (in1451), who embodied the active maritime tradition of the city. It is noted for its many examples of medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and Gothic architecture. The Ducal Palace, San Lorenzo Cathedral, Church of San Matteo, and Palazzo San Giorgio are some of the most important historical monuments. The Palazzo Bianco and the Palazzo Rosso are the two largest picture galleries; Edoardo Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art and the Cathedral Treasury have extensive medieval collections. The Via Garibaldi and the Palazzi dei Rolli, are the first European examples of an urban development project that was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2006. The University of Genoa is an important center of higher learning in northern Italy. The city also has several colleges and a school of navigation.

+ Genoa is linked with the major cities of Italy, France, and Switzerland by railway and highways. Its port serves as the chief outlet for the agricultural and industrial products of northern Italy and much of central Europe. Cristoforo Colombo International Airport, situated 4 miles (6.5 km) west of the city, provides domestic and international flights.

+ This city and its port can seem full at once of grandeur, sparkling light and deep shade. A gateway to the Riviera for travellers today its weighty architectural heritage speaks of its former glory; the Most Serene Republic of Genoa ruled over the Mediterranean waves during the 12th to the 13th centuries -- and history feels alive in Genoa -- especially in its Old City, still a reminder of premodern life, with its maze of narrow streets largely intact. Emerge from this thrilling heart to Via Garibaldi and the Enlightenment-era gold-leaf halls of the Palazzi dei Rolli. In the heart of the city lies Piazza de Ferrari, a main square with a beautiful fountain and historic buildings like the Palace of the Doges the Teatro Carlo Felice.