Time to throw preconceptions out the window. I expected to like Genoa more than Marseille. Such was not the case. It was something of a frustrating day.  It should have been easy, as the cruise dock is very close to the city, and the main railway station is only a few minutes’ walk away.  I wanted to ride some of the various lifts and funiculars that assist Genovans (and visitors) to get up the steep hills that the city is built on.

First was to be the Granolaro rack railway. Closed until next week. Grrr.  We stumbled across the Zecca-Righi funicular entrance a short distance away. Happily it was operating, so we bought a day pass each and stepped aboard.  It groaned its way up the incline, stopping at several intermediate stations, including the wonderfully named Carbonara.  We alighted at the top. Ian spied a distant fort, so we agreed to go for an exploratory walk.  There were huge walls, steps and tunnels, all of ancient origin – even what may be a Roman road.  We had a couple of attempts at finding the nearest fort, including via a rough forest track, but were stymied by fences so had to abandon it. We did get great views.

Funiculi Funicula

When I grow up I want to drive the train

Sadly no pasta in sight

View from Righi 

Italian autostrade

How did they get those cars there???

Very ancient walls

Forest trail

Possibly a Roman road

Once a gate with portcullis

Next we tried to ride the horizontal-vertical lift which goes from Montegalleto to Castell Albertis. It took us ages to even find it.  Closed until next week. Grrr.

Castell Albertis

A big knocker

We were no longer brave enough to try the other lifts. Instead we headed down, down, down many steps, feeling sorry for anyone who had to drag a suitcase up them. We imagined the conversation … “But AirBNB says it’s only 150 metres from the metro!”

Hoping the control description is not Top of Stairs

Interminable steps

Guard cat

Yet more steps. Did I mention Genoa has many steps?

We decided to head out of the city, which was very busy, crowded and dirty, with narrow uneven footpaths that I was finding difficult, and Vespa drivers zooming round corners with their usual abandon.  Our day pass was valid for a regional train to Nervi, a small seaside town about 10 kms east of Genoa.  We knew there was a coastal promenade there which sounded like a pleasant place to walk.

It was a pretty walk, although there was nothing we would call a beach. Instead there were lots of rocks below. The path was dotted with icecream shops and small restaurants.  We were well off the cruise ship tourism trail, as it seemed only locals were here enjoying the sun. Some had managed to find a way into the water for a swim.

Seaside promenade

Seaside town

Seaside

We popped out at another small town, Quinto, which was the next station along the line. A short train trip brought us back into the centre of Genoa, and back to the comfort of the ship.  We left much of Genoa unseen, but we were hot and tired and hungry, and we are big-city weary for now.  Hopefully we are headed for smaller ports where we can get away from the hustle and bustle.

The late afternoon sun lent a lovely light to the Genoa hillside. Later we enjoyed an evening sailaway with twinkling lights.