Genoa, the largest port in Italy

The city of Genoa is an unknown city. And yet this city, which was for a long time a rival of Rome, would have been well seen playing the role of capital. With its twenty-two kilometers long and 70 million tons of goods in transit, Genoa is undoubtedly the largest port in Italy. An unusual place that can be visited from afar, an ideal place for all fans of “industrial tourism”.

Genoa, a huge port in northern Italy

The port of Genoa is an immense labyrinth that runs along the sea and is bordered by the highway. Except with the collapse of the Morandi Bridge in August 2018 and the health crisis of the year 2020, the activity of the port has seen a significant drop in activity. With the drop in traffic, the economy of the whole of Liguria is under strain and tens of thousands of jobs are threatened.

Key figures for the commercial port of Genoa

When you look at the figures for the port of Genoa they are quite impressive. Those who know a little bit about Genoa will not be surprised since this port is almost on a par with the port of Marseille. Although Genoa points to the sixtieth largest port in the world, it is indeed one of the largest ports in Europe, located in northwestern Italy.

Every year the equivalent of 2.6 million containers (TEU) pass through the commercial port of Genoa. The equivalent of nearly 70 million tons of goods. It is therefore very logical that the port of Genoa is the largest port in Italy.

The passenger port of Genoa

Apart from yachting and the transport of goods or raw materials, Genoa has a huge passenger port. Here boats arrive and depart for the entire Mediterranean basin.

Every year the port welcomes more than four million passengers via ferry traffic. But that’s not all, because in addition to these passengers in transit there are 1.2 million cruise passengers who call at Genoa. That’s nearly 3,300 cruise passengers per day. That’s not surprising since these are gigantic ships among the largest liners in the world that stop in Genoa.

Behind the port is hidden a real capital

Genoa is one of the largest cities in Italy but it is above all the capital of Liguria, a beautiful region in northwestern Italy.

When you turn your back on the port of Genoa, you discover with amazement one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. A city built on a hillside a bit like Nice or Monaco. Except that in Genoa there is life on every floor and that’s what’s fantastic. On the other hand in the heights of Nice there are only residential areas. Genoa breathes life and dynamism, even if life is not necessarily easy every day.

Genoa, on the marina side

On the side of the marina, it is much less impressive but really pretty. The Genoese call this place the “Porto Antico”, or the old port if we translate literally.

The walk on the marina is one of the favorite activities of the inhabitants of Genoa or visitors passing by.

photo credits: Yann Ve