The Via Garibaldi is a narrow alley containing multiple former palazzos belonging to the Genovese gentry. 

Most of the houses date from the early 16th Century and are now banks or offices. 

This converted Palazzo is now the consulate for Monaco. 

Three of the most beautiful palazzos have been turned into a combination of museum and art gallery; together they are called the Strada Nuova museums. 

The houses contain a staggering collection of 16^th to 18^th Century Italian, Spanish and Flemish artworks from such masters as Caravaggio, Van Dyck & Rubens. 

We toured through the Palazzo Rosso (1671-1677) to see its amazing ceilings and tapestries.

Other treasures in the Palazzo Rosso include carved wardrobes and ornate furniture.

We toured the garden of the Palazzo Bianco across the street from the Palazzo Rosso.

The Palazzo Doria Tursi was built in 1565 for Nicolo Grimaldi and was designed to be the most grandiose private residence in the city.  In 1597 the house was bought by Giovanni Andrea Doria for his son Charles the Duke of Tursi.  In addition to being a large museum, the Palazzo Doria Tursi has housed the Genova Town Hall since 1850.

Palazzo Doria Tursi is the current home of a violin made by master luthier Giuseppe Guarneri and gifted to Italian violinist and composer Nicolo Paganini as a teen.

Lunch was at a small restaurant down a tiny alley.

Because the town of Genova rises sharply up the cliffside from the coast, the city has implemented various funicular systems that are part of the local public transport.  The ascensore di Castaletto is another creative way for citizens to reach the higher altitudes of the city without a long uphill walk! 

The 100 year old elevator (built in 1909) brought us from street level up the escarpment to the Belvedere Casteletto with great city views. 

A rather long walk partially through a tunnel brought us to the Christopher Columbus monument beside the Genova train station.

Columbus is dressed in a short Spanish tabard with an open cloak. His left hand rests on his anchor, his right over the shoulder of a figure of “America”, a kneeling Indian maiden holding a cross in her hand.  At the four corners are smaller statues of Piety, Science, Constancy and Prudence. 

We managed to get a reservation at the tiny Oosteria Il Balcone, a 2nd floor restaurant with an interesting but typical Ligurian menu.