The name of Genoa comes from the Latin word Janua, meaning gate. A gate opening onto the sea and onto the fulfilment of distant ambitions such as the conquest of the flourishing oriental markets.

The growth of the city passes from a commercial emporium to a sea Republic which dominated the whole Mediterranean Area, from the berth point for the galleys of Andrea Doria to the shipping terminal for merchants and passengers floats. With a current population of 700.000 (inhabitants) Genoa has recently undergone a remarkable urban development aimed at valorising the city’s artistic and architectural heritages. The restoration of the port area (Expo centre) means that the city’s inhabitants and tourists have access to the completely renovated old port, the largest Aquarium in Europe, the sophisticated Magazzini del Cotone Congress Centre, etc. The city’s history is not only evident in the old Port but also in the widest centro storico of Europe with its via Aurea (today via Garibaldi), via Balbi (central location of the University of Genoa), Palazzo Ducale, etc.

Today Genoa is a lively centre for many industrial, research and commercial activities with a well developed grid for the circulation of the people, goods and communications.

Most of the information here reported are taken from the official website “Genova 2004-Genoa, European Capital of Culture”.

Genoa boasts a mild climate of Mediterranean type (average temperature 16,6°C), with warm, dry summers (average temperature 24,6°C) and mild winters (average temperature 8,6°C). Maximum precipitation occurs in November, minimum in January. Fog, snow or freezing temperatures occur less than once a year.