Overview

The lighthouse and symbol of the city

Standing tall at 77 meters, the iconic Genoa Lanterna is the tallest lighthouse in the Mediterranean and the second tallest in Europe. It was built in 1543 on the promontory of Capo di Faro, but according to some reports a watchtower having a similar structure existed there as early as the 12th century. The Genoa Lanterna is still fully operational and illuminates the sea acting as a light beacon to mark the harbor every 20 seconds.

Tourists can visit it by climbing its 172 steps, reaching the top of the lighthouse and admiring the view of the harbor and the old city. The multimedia museum inside hosts stories and testimonies about Genoa and its province. To reach the Lanterna, it is possible to walk the stretch that following along Genoa's city walls, connects it to the Ferry Terminal.

And despite the passage of time and urban transformations, Genoa remains "the city in the shadow of the Lanterna."