The Iconic FIAT Factory At Lingotto
The FIAT factory at Lingotto is best remembered in the UK for its appearance in the Italian Job. I just had to visit.
I couldn’t find out how to get on the roof to see where the Minis had outrun the Italian police, so I explored the rather boring shopping centre and then returned to the centre of Turin to catch my train to Milan.
The Turin Metro
The Turin Metro is not a big system, although it is being expanded.
Unlike the system in Genoa, it doesn’t serve the main part of the city centre, although it does link up the main train stations.
Like London’s DLR it is driver-less and surely in a few years time, all metros will be this way.
Would I Go Back To Genoa?
Genoa was a total surprise and the icing on the cake, was the old city, with its Aladdin’s Cave for coeliacs.
I will definitely go back. It would be a very good starting point for a trip round Italy.
One of the great advantages is the lack of tourists. But sadly, they will discover it!
No Small Waters In Italy
i drink a lot and usually carry a small bottle of water. In the UK, I often have one of the standard small 330 ml. bottles of Harrogate Spring Water, that seem to be ubiquitous on trains, in my pocket.
330 ml. bottle of Harrogate Spring Water
But in Italy finding small bottles of water was very difficult. Even half litres ones were difficult to find in some places.
Even those weight half a kilogram and unlike the small ones, they don’t fit in a pocket.
Piazza De Ferrari
The Piazza De Ferrari is the magnificent main square of Genoa.
On one side is the Palazzo Ducale and there is a bronze fountain in the middle. The restaurant I visited is perhaps a hundred metres away and it has its own Metro station.
Aladdin’s Cave was at one side of this square.
Exploring Genoa
Genoa surprised me and I spent a very enjoyable two hours walking through the old city.
The area of Genoa that I explored was well laid out for tourists, with lots of maps and signage. Every street too, seems to have a proper name on the wall, which is something unique in many parts of Europe.
But tourists were rather thin on the ground and I only saw one organised party. So perhaps you should visit Genoa before it builds more hotels and get discovered.
My Supper In Genoa
I found a gem in Genoa called the Trattoria Alle Due Torri.
Look at the web page and translate it into English and you’ll see it is endorsed by the Associazione Italiana Celiachia. They have an extensive gluten-free menu and it was great.
If you look at the picture of my starter, you’ll see something at the right that was some sort of vegetable flan, that tasted like quiche. But it was gluten free and gorgeous.
Certainly, it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had in Italy. And I’ve eaten quite a few!
I did overindulge a bit. But I was on holiday!
My Hotel In Genoa
I’d booked a cheap hotel in Genoa, because the Alexander Hotel looked to be close to the main railway station at Principe. It was very close!
The Alexander Hotel taken From The Metro Station
The hotel was clean, in an excellent location and the staff were friendly and helpful, even if they didn’t know about the metro.
Checking on the Internet, Genoa doesn’t seem to be too well served with hotels close to the main station. So if you’re going to Genoa, I’d do your research thoroughly.
The Metro In Genoa
The Metro in Genoa is only small, but it got me out of trouble. There had been a lineside fire and everybody was taken off the train from Rome at the Brignole station, rather than the main one at Principe. There was no information at the station and I eventually found a friendly concierge in a hotel, who told me to take three stops on the Metro.
It is only a small system, but it covers the main parts of the city centre and goes to the sites I wanted to see on my overnight visit.
I actually could have used it more, as it also ran from my hotel to the restaurant I found on the Internet. But the hotel concierge felt it best I took a taxi, despite the station being about thirty metres away.
Compared to some metros I’ve used throughout Europe and the world, the Genoa metro sets a standard that others could emulate.
Two Trains To Genoa
I took two trains to Genoa.
The first was one of the new high speed trains called Frecciarossa, that got me to Rome in just over two hours and the second was a Frecciabianca that got me to Genoa around six in the evening. I didn’t write the exact times down and can’t find them from the Trenitalia web site.
On the trip to Rome, I had an aisle seat, which explains the lack of pictures. Especially as the train was crowded!
When I booked the trip, I didn’t realise that the Rome to Genoa leg runs for a long time up the coast and has spectacular sea views.
Both trains were 2+2 seating and despite the bigger loading gauge in Italy compared to the UK, I think that the seating was rather cramped compared to some First Class I’ve sampled in the UK, in France and on Eurostar.
The stops on the Rome to Genoa leg are also quite important cities including Pisa, which is a major rail junction, so don’t necessarily do the leg in one as I did.
The Anonymous Widower 