Genoa has a rich network of museums that mirrors its long history, its mercantile yet aristocratic spirit, its undeniable maritime vocation, and its international outlook. Exploring the city’s museums is a multifaceted journey through Baroque palaces, medieval convents, seaside villas, noble residences, and contemporary spaces, each housing collections of every kind.
Discover all the museums that make Genoa a true crossroads of art and culture.
The Strada Nuova Museums: the artistic heart of Via Garibaldi
In the heart of Via Garibaldi are the renowned Strada Nuova Museums, a complex that brings together:
- Palazzo Rosso, which houses a remarkable art gallery featuring seventeenth-century frescoes and works by Genoese and European masters such as Van Dyck, Guercino and Strozzi; not to be missed is the panoramic terrace, offering one of the most breathtaking views over the city;
- Palazzo Bianco, home to one of Genoa’s most important art collections, displaying masterpieces by Rubens, Caravaggio and Murillo;
- Palazzo Tursi, now the Town Hall, where visitors can admire decorative arts, ceramics, silverware and the musical instruments once owned by Niccolò Paganini.
The city and the sea: museums that tell the story of sailing
Genoa is a city shaped by the sea, and this connection is reflected in its museums:
- The Galata Museo del Mare, overlooking the Darsena, is the largest maritime museum in the Mediterranean, recounting the history of navigation through ship models, nautical charts, reconstructions and immersive multimedia installations;
- D’Albertis Castle, a striking neo-Gothic residence once belonging to Captain Enrico Alberto D’Albertis, showcases artefacts and stories collected during his voyages around the world, offering a fascinating insight into global cultures;
- The Naval Museum of Pegli, housed in Villa Doria Centurione, illustrates Ligurian seafaring through ship models, maps and navigational instruments, recreating Mediterranean and Atlantic routes and the daily life of sailors between sail and steam.
Nervi: an art hub among villas and gardens
An exceptional museum hub is concentrated in the Nervi Parks:
- the Gallery of Modern Art, housed in the splendid Villa Saluzzo Serra, displays works from the 19th and 20th centuries, including paintings, sculptures and engravings, originating from the legacy of Prince Odone of Savoy and enriched over time;
- a short distance away, the Raccolte Frugone at Villa Grimaldi Fassio presents paintings by Boldini, De Nittis and Fattori, together with sculptures and drawings that reflect the refined and cosmopolitan taste of the late 19th century;
- the Wolfsoniana, finally, is devoted to the decorative arts and design between 1880 and 1945, with furniture, ceramics, glass and posters illustrating the transition from Art Nouveau to Rationalism.
Middle Ages, Oriental art and archaeology
The Museum of St Augustine occupies an ancient convent and houses sculptures, tombstones and frescoes, tracing a journey through centuries of Genoese history, from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance.
Also worth visiting is the Chiossone Museum, set within the gardens of Acquasola, which contains one of the most important collections of Oriental art in Europe, including bronzes, lacquerware, armour and Japanese and Chinese prints, all part of Edoardo Chiossone’s bequest.
In Pegli, within the splendid Villa Pallavicini, lies the Ligurian Archaeological Museum, which preserves artefacts ranging from prehistory to Roman times. These everyday objects and funerary goods document the long history of the Ligurian region and its enduring connections with the Mediterranean.
Contemporary art and science: where to see them in Genoa
Among Genoa’s most modern museums are the Villa Croce Museum, dedicated to contemporary art, and the “Giacomo Doria” Civic Museum of Natural History. The former houses more than three thousand works and a dynamic programme of temporary exhibitions within a 19th-century villa overlooking the sea at Carignano. The latter preserves remarkable collections of zoology, botany, mineralogy and palaeontology, offering visitors a journey through the planet’s extraordinary biodiversity.
Lantern Museum
Inside Genoa’s iconic lighthouse, the Lanterna, a multimedia exhibition retraces the monument’s history and the evolution of maritime signalling techniques. From its terraces, visitors can enjoy breathtaking views over the port and the city.
Royal Palace Museum
One of the most magnificent aristocratic residences in Genoa, the Royal Palace Museum showcases splendid Baroque interiors, original furnishings, tapestries and paintings that evoke the grandeur of the city’s noble families.
San Lorenzo, Casa Mazzini and Casa Colombo
In the heart of the historic centre, the Museum of the Treasury of San Lorenzo guards exceptional reliquaries, silver and precious artefacts in the cathedral’s underground chambers, including the legendary Sacro Catino (Sacred Basin), a relic surrounded by mystery and centuries-old tradition.
A short walk away, the Birthplace of Giuseppe Mazzini, now home to the Museum of the Risorgimento, displays documents, portraits and memorabilia that recount Genoa’s pivotal role in the unification of Italy.
Completing this itinerary of memory and identity are the Casa di Colombo, a small medieval house traditionally associated with the great navigator, and the imposing towers of Porta Soprana, enduring symbols of the city’s deep connection with its history and the sea that shaped its renown.
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