Genoa History

Genoa, a northern Italian city and seaport, is the birthplace of Christopher Columbus and is the capital of the province of Genoa and the region of Liguria. The name ‘Genoa’ is believed to have derived from the mythical two-headed ‘Giano’, the protector of ships and coins. As well as being full of mythical origins, Genoa is a city of two faces, looking both inland and towards the sea. It has always been a crossroads of traffic and culture between continental Europe and the Mediterranean, thanks to its natural position and the initiative of its inhabitants.

Early years

For several centuries after the fall of the Roman Empire, Genoa was little more than a small, obscure fishing centre, slowly building its merchant fleet to become the leading commercial carrier of the Mediterranean. Trade, shipbuilding and banking helped Genoa grew to become a main Byzantine stronghold, with its fleet becoming one of  the largest and most powerful navy in the region.

Before 1100, Genoa emerged as an independent city-state, one of the so-called ‘Maritime Republics’ (Republiche Marinare), along with rivals Venice, Pisa and Amalfi, with the Republic of Genoa extending over modern Liguria and Piedmont, Sardinia and Corsica. In the 1284 naval battle of Meloria, Genoa defeated Pisa, also an important port, and gained control of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

The Middle Ages

Genoa’s participation in the Eastern Crusades made the city a valued importer of riches and new products. Its economic success, due to increased business in the east, led to a population explosion that tripled the size of the city. Genoa’s prosperity into the next century was conducive to Christopher Columbus’s New World explorations.

A number of pirate attacks occurred along the Ligurian coast in the second half of the 16th century. Despite the loss of the Mediterranean colonies, the next 30 years under the dictatorship of Andrea Doria gave stability and a new constitution in 1528 to the republic, with a radical renewal of buildings carried out by some of the most famous Renaissance masters. The Spanish connection, reinforced by Andrea Doria, made Genoa a satellite of the Spanish Empire. This led to a period of great economic prosperity.

Modern history

In the 19th century, Genoa went through another phase of urban renewal, with large roads and important public works being built, and by the end of the 19th century, it was the first merchant port in the Mediterranean. However, with the shift in world economy and trade routes to the New World moving away from the Mediterranean, Genoa's political and economic power went into steady decline.

The entire region also contributed to the two World wars and the fight for liberation in the 20th century. After the industrial boom of the 1960's and the stagnation that the port and the iron and steel industries faced with successive economic crises, Genoa became a cultural centre, a new tourist destination and a city of art.   The city was also the venue of EXPO ’92 and the 27th G8 summit in 2001 as well as being voted the 2004 European capital of culture.