Genoa

Genoa, now best known for being the birthplace of the (infamous) Christopher Columbus, was one of the great Maritime Republics, and the wealth of its past is still present throughout the city.

Random buildings, like this bank, have dramatic painted ceilings.

Even the Airbnb we stayed in was a historic building with a "Demon Fountain."

The Church of Saint Peter in Banchi was built in the 16th century.

The Port Authority Building, behind the street art, used to be the Doge's Palace, and later a jail.

Genoa is home to an impressive aquarium.

 

Ballin'

Genoa's lighthouse was originally built in the 12th century, and is now the 5th tallest in the world.

Cavour 21 is the best deal in town.

Genoese writing on the Porta Soprana.

The Porta Soprana, one of the gates into Genoa.

St. Andrew cloister ruins

Columbus's house

Some of the grander buildings in Genoa.

Mermaid Man's door knocker

Another building used as the Doge's Palace

Strada Nuova is lined with the palaces of the Genoese aristocracy.

The Cathedral of San Lorenzo is Genoa's most impressive church.

A family with interesting fashion choices...

Columbus's ashes are in a random urn in the Maritime Museum.

Genoa heavily employed galley slaves, unlike Venice.

Your navy is only as good as its cannon.

A good infographic in populist times.

Locanda degli Adorno is another excellent restaurant.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

A grotto fountain hidden in a Genoese palace.

Genoa is still one of the three largest ports in the Mediterranean.

This is the only Lion of St. Mark, the symbol of Genoa's sworn enemy, I could find in Genoa.

Fondazione Bisazza

The Fondazione Bisazza is an art installation next to Vicenza showing off artistic uses of the Bisazza company's glass mosaic tiles.

Possible homage to the Dog Knight statue of Verona?

Kneel before Andross!

Fondazione Bisazza is an excellent free art museum. The only art out of place was a room devoted to Japanese rope bondage. I guess it takes place on tile...

Monte Grappa

Monte Grappa served as an important Italian defense position during World War 1.

It has excellent overwatch over the surrounding area.

The Alpini now operate a memorial there.

Artillery craters and foxholes still dot the landscape.

Over 12,000 Austrian and Italian soldiers are buried at the memorial. 10,000 are unidentified to this day.

There is a Rifugio next to the memorial.

More artillery craters, supply lines, and foxholes.

There are 30 switchbacks on the drive from the towns below, with over 1500 meters of elevation gain.

Prosecco Country

Prosecco wine is grown between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene near Treviso, north of Venice, on the edge of the Dolomites.

Wine has been grown in this region since Roman times. The Venetians controlled the area for hundreds of years as well.

Unlike Champagne, secondary fermentation of Prosecco usually occurs in a separate vessel.

Gregoletto Winery, near Conegliano, is over 400 years old.

The best Prosecco is produced on small plots of land in the hills. This is the view from Ca' Salina, our favorite winery, near Valdobbiadene.