Thursday Doors: Genoa, Italy
Posted on: July 17, 2025
- In: Doors | Travel
- 97 Comments
Ever since I saw the Colin Firth movie, A Summer in Genoa, I wanted to visit Genoa (Genova in Italian). My first visit to Italy was to Genoa. I was captivated by the tall pastel-coloured terracotta-roofed houses, amazing churches, and stately homes tucked away in the narrow streets and piazzas. This city is the birthplace of Christopher Columbus, and was my perfect introduction to Italy. Here are a few buildings and doors.
The impressive Palazzo San Giorgio/Palace of St. George, built in 1260, features a fresco depicting St. George, the patron saint of Genoa. It currently houses the headquarters of the Port System Authority of the Western Ligurian Sea.
The early 12th-century San Lorenzo Cathedral has a fascinating black and white striped marble façade. The money to build the cathedral came from the successful enterprises of the Genoese fleets during the Crusades.
The details above the door are incredible.
There were many churches and cathedrals scattered around the city, all with ornate door frames.
The entrance to a stately home.
The front door of another stately home, once owned by a wealthy merchant.
The door of a cafe.
An apartment building with a stripped exterior, once the home of a wealthy moneylender.
The Church of San Matteo, a typical striped Genoese building.
In the Piazza de Ferrari
An interesting sign for a restaurant
The doors to a focaccia bakery. Genoa is the home of focaccia bread, which is typically eaten for breakfast or during the day. There are often long lines waiting for their morning focaccia bread. Did I have some? Of course, and it was delicious!
I was amused to find this elegant old building with a Sushi sign! Genoa is a very cosmopolitan city and is definitely worth a visit.
Thursday Doors is a weekly challenge created by Dan Antion for people who love doors and architecture to come together to admire and share their favourite door photos, drawings, or other images or stories from around the world. If you’d like to join us, simply create your own Thursday Doors post each (or any) week and then share a link to your post in the comments on Dan’s blog post. Check out all the other door posts.
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97 Responses to "Thursday Doors: Genoa, Italy"
July 17, 2025 at 8:53 pm
I love the Liguria region and maritime history of the Genovese . Nice pics!
July 17, 2025 at 8:56 pm
Wow! interesting how many of the buildings employee horizontal stripes as a motif.
July 17, 2025 at 9:35 pm
I know. I was just amazed at that. Apparently this design is found in other Italian cities. I would like to know more about it but need to do more research. It’s not paint but the colour of the stones from what I understand. Thanks for commenting, Mitch.
July 17, 2025 at 10:00 pm
One of my walking friends has a connection to the city and always said it was beautiful xx
July 17, 2025 at 10:02 pm
Darlene, you impressively captured some very impressive architecture — including that (not so) ancient sushi sign. 🙂
July 17, 2025 at 10:59 pm
Spellbinding, Darlene. Thank you for sharing a slice of your trip with us. Now I wish I could eat some foccaccia 🙂
July 18, 2025 at 12:39 am
I know. I got hungry for some while writing the post! Thanks, Patricia.
July 17, 2025 at 11:06 pm
Hi Darlene, a wonderful place to visit. I enjoyed your pictures. I like focaccia bread very much so that’s an added attraction.
July 18, 2025 at 12:40 am
Thanks, Robbie. have you been to Genoa? Focaccia bread is not too hard to make. I must make some soon.
July 17, 2025 at 11:19 pm
Thanks for taking us along with you, Darlene. The photos are wonderful. I did laugh a bit when I saw the Sushi sign, but at least the beautiful building is being well maintained. I am hungry for a piece of focaccia, but that will have to wait.
July 18, 2025 at 12:42 am
I seem to be making everyone hungry for focaccia bread! That sushi sign did make me laugh too.
July 17, 2025 at 11:37 pm
I’m impressed with Genoa–beyond its grand doors!
July 17, 2025 at 11:42 pm
In Italy, so many churches, practically on every corner, and each is architecturally different. This one is a beauty! Thanks for posting.
July 18, 2025 at 12:06 am
Genoa is beautiful. Thank you for your lovely post, Darlene. Xx ❤️
July 18, 2025 at 1:10 am
Fantastic Italian doors, Darlene! Love the shop signs too.
July 18, 2025 at 1:22 am
Genoa’s architecture is spectacular, Darlene. Truly beautiful. Thanks for sharing! 💗
July 18, 2025 at 2:47 am
I enjoyed these photos, Darlene. Thanks for the tour. I haven’t seen it, but now I really need to find A Summer in Genoa. I certainly do like Colin Firth. Hugs.
July 18, 2025 at 3:24 am
So do I-sigh. I enjoyed that movie and the scenes from Genoa are great. Hugs back.
July 18, 2025 at 4:24 am
Wonderful share Darlene. I love your grand photo of the doors of San Lorenzo Cathedral. Impressive buildings and beautifully photographed. What a great place so full of history to visit. Thank you!
July 18, 2025 at 4:49 am
The striped buildings really caught my eye. I especially liked the Church of San Lorenzo.
July 18, 2025 at 5:13 am
Thank you for the trip to Genoa, Darlene. Your photos are spectacular.
July 18, 2025 at 7:13 am
Hi Darlene, I enjoyed looking at these doors from Genoa. Some very impressive entrances, even the stripped down one. Hope you are keeping cool this summer!
July 18, 2025 at 9:07 am
Thanks my friend. It’s hot here but we manage. Thankfully there is a pool. Glad you enjoyed the doors.
July 21, 2025 at 2:11 am
Same heat here! Temps were lower yesterday, but the humidity was ridiculous 🙂
[…] Thursday Doors: Genoa, Italy […]
July 18, 2025 at 10:36 am
You always find such good doors! I don’t think I’ve seen anything like the striped marble construction before.
July 18, 2025 at 4:43 pm
Long before I discovered Dan and his Thursday Door challenge, I have been attracted to interesting doors. I’m happy to find a place to showcase them. I had never seen the striped buildings before.
July 19, 2025 at 4:22 am
Nice that you have a ready supply of good doors for the weekly challenge!
July 18, 2025 at 10:57 am
I was only in Genoa for one day at the tail end of a much longer trip and a bit too tired to wander around very much. You’ve shown me what I missed out on. 😊 I’ll have to go back. Lovely captures, Darlene!
July 18, 2025 at 4:47 pm
Thanks, Brenda. This stop was at the beginning of my holiday so I still had lots of energy. It was just one day as well but I would happily return for a longer visit.
July 18, 2025 at 12:39 pm
Very cool, Darlene. My wife and I are celebrating 39 years together next month, but I’m trying to talk her into going to Italy for our 40th.
July 18, 2025 at 4:48 pm
A trip to Italy for your 40th Anniversary would be wonderful. It wouldn’t take much talking into for me!
July 18, 2025 at 1:43 pm
The stonework is amazing, both the black and white patterns and the sculptures. Genoa is definitely worth a visit!
July 19, 2025 at 9:08 pm
I love the Palace of St. George! I ate focaccia bread last Wednesday at our local Prezzo. Delicious.
July 19, 2025 at 10:21 pm
The Palace of St. George was the first thing we saw when we got off the ship. So impressive. I love focaccia bread!
July 19, 2025 at 10:15 pm
The doors are magnificent! Thank you for the tour, Darlene.
July 20, 2025 at 1:01 am
More stellar beauty with buildings and doors. And a recipe. Sounds tasty. Thanks for all the eye candy. Enjoy the weekend. oxox
July 20, 2025 at 1:03 am
Thanks Maryann! I didn’t even show the pastry shop windows!
July 20, 2025 at 8:51 am
Whew. Just think of all the calories I did not consume. Next time, show us, please. Enjoy the weekend. oxox
July 20, 2025 at 1:48 am
Very cool, Darlene. I love architectural details and the Cathedral of San Lorenzo is stunning. What an interesting style of black and white marble stripes in many of the old buildings. Thanks for the photos!
July 20, 2025 at 1:52 am
Thank you so much, Diana. I was impressed with the stripped buildings too.
July 20, 2025 at 4:03 am
This makes me want to visit Genoa now. The city looks lovely. And now I’m craving some focaccia bread! Yum!
July 20, 2025 at 7:23 am
Hard to go wrong with the type of architecture in Genoa!! Great captures….all of them!! Again, with the type of architecture there….really hard to go wrong!!
July 20, 2025 at 7:26 am
So true! Pleased you enjoyed the photos.
July 20, 2025 at 7:31 am
I not only enjoyed them….I loved them!! It reminded me of what I saw in elsewhere in Italy when I was in Rome and Florence a couple of years ago!
July 20, 2025 at 4:49 pm
That’s great! There is still so much more of Italy I’d like to explore.
July 21, 2025 at 6:24 am
I can’t think of a better challenge to fit your wonderful pictures from your incredible travels. Wow, Genoa looks marvelous!
July 21, 2025 at 6:58 am
Genoa is so wonderful. And it’s the home of two of my favourite things, pesto and focaccia!
July 21, 2025 at 5:09 pm
You had a lovely trip to Genoa, Darlene! The black and white striped marble on San Lorenzo Cathedral is beautiful. After my Italy trip, I learned that the Roman used some marble in Italy but also imported marble from other countries that had black and white stripes or pink stripes. Your photos of other churches and buildings are beautiful. I love Italian bakery. Sushi! Wow!
July 21, 2025 at 10:10 pm
Thanks so much Miriam. The striped building materiel was so unique.
July 22, 2025 at 5:24 am
It seems to me that you have traveled extensively. Other than a hop or two into Canada, I have never left my country- and probably never will, so I really appreciate you sharing your travels with me here
July 22, 2025 at 7:28 am
I have been lucky to have travelled a lot. You can come along with me as I document my travels on my blog! I’m glad you enjoy these photos.
July 22, 2025 at 2:14 pm
The doors are incredible. I’ve never been to Genoa, but it certainly looks like a city well worth visiting!
Darlene Foster's Blog 
July 17, 2025 at 8:42 pm
That architecture is just outstanding!
July 17, 2025 at 9:51 pm
I was impressed!! Thanks for visiting my blog.
July 18, 2025 at 5:19 am
You’re welcome.