Mark Twain wrote "the stately city of Genoa rose up out of the sea and flung back the sunlight from her hundred palaces" when he visited it in the summer of 1868. Cervantes, author of Don Quixote, described Genoa in a novel taken from his Exemplary Novels. He wrote that Genoa was wonderful and shining, the houses on the rocks were like diamonds set in gold.

Genoa is actually a special city. With its natural harbor, protected by mountains, it was destined to be a powerful city. It was one of the Italian Sea Republics that dominated Mediterranean Sea and Europe during Low Middle Ages and Renaissance (together with Amalfi, Venice and Pisa). In that period Genoa was considered the city that dominated the seas.

The ancient part of the city is made of small squares and narrow streets, called caruggi (very narrow streets between very tall houses and often less than 3 m wide). Walking along them, visitors can discover the most hidden corners of the city. During the past these carruggi were used by carts (carri) and this is inhabitants called them "carrubei". They have Middle Ages features with some XVI century and Baroque elements. They build a real labyrinth from where it is not possible to see the sea. These hidden spots are full, however, of Mediterranean flavors: the smell of pesto sauce (made with ‘basilico’), spinaches, fried food and "farinata" made with chickpeas.

The ancient part of the town is very lively and has to be tasted in each aspect. Walking through the streets, visitors find wonderful churches, monuments, archaeological sites that actually surprise them.

Genoa is a real labyrinth that has to be discovered and rediscovered with a curious and careful attitude.