La Lanterna and Porto Antico di Genova, Italia
La Lanterna di Genova (the Lighthouse of Genoa) is the symbol of the city of Genoa, and is still the official lighthouse of the Port of Genoa. Located on the promontory of Capo di Faro, La Lanterna, with its 77 meters/253 feet of height, is the tallest lighthouse in the Mediterranean, second in Europe and is the third oldest lighthouse in the world among those that are still in operation today.
According to some unofficial sources, the first tower was built in 1128, a little less tall than the actual tower, with a similar architectural structure. Born as a watchtower to announce the arrival of suspicious boats and over time also become a lighthouse to signal to sailors’ access to the port. In 1326 the first olive oil lantern was installed, whose light was concentrated in a beam thanks to transparent crystals produced by Ligurian and Venetian glass masters.
Legend has it that the tower builder (his name is unknown) was thrown into the sea from its top by the Genoese and the speculation for the cause of this incredibly ungrateful gesture seem essentially be two. The first tells the story of how the inhabitants of the city, struck by the aesthetic and strategic perfection of the tower, decided to eliminate the architect to prevent him from proposing a similar work elsewhere. The second links the murder to purely economic reasons…the Genoese, it has been proposed, did not want to pay their bill.
172 narrow steep stairs later…we were rewarded with very strong winds and a view of Genova from port to mountains.
Porto Antico di Genvoa
In the new city waterfront, you will find the Porto Antico di Genvoa. It is located in the heart of the city, adjacent to the historic center and is the largest square on the Mediterranean. It stretches over 22 kilometers along the coastline. It is the most famous seaport of Italy and in competition with the ports of Marseille and Barcelona in the Mediterranean Sea.
There were a few cafés worth exploring and it’s worth wandering through to check out what they have done.
