Genoa: From his high pedestal Christopher Columbus observes the sea, trying to find the place where, beyond thousands of miles, there lays his greatest discovery - the lands of Central and South America. Genoa citizens solicitously keep the memory of their great compatriot: still, you can find the house in which Columbus was born and where he spent his life and there are always fresh flowers by the foot of the monument.

Lagoon is the favourite place for the citizens where they can spend their free time, and if you come here in the evening, you will see an impressive sight: the full-length copy of the Columbus's caravel is shining in the rays of searchlights. The lagoon was projected by talented architects: here's one of the world's biggest aquariums located, and ten steps further there is the skating rink that never melts, so you can see young men and women in beach outfits.

Use the noiseless lift to raise only several dozens of meters higher and what you'll see will make you totally breathless: below there are soft curves of the Ligurian coast while there are Apennine tops above you against the background of the bright blue sky. Palaces, museums, great arches, living quarters built with a refined taste, wide squares and narrow streets are all crowded between the coast and the mountains.

Go along the Genoa streets and squares. In every corner there are historic signs and on every turn you will find the traces of glorious deeds accomplished by the previous generations. On one of the castles you will find the board that says that in XII century Genoa citizens were fighting against Frederick Barbarossa forces here. The high relief plots on the Garibaldi monument will tell you how 700 years later battalion that belonged to the great Italian walked along the Genoa streets…

Genoa is the city that will definitely enchant you and will make you fall in love with it.

The weather is mild here all year round. Even at Christmas time the city is filled up with light and the temperature is as high as 15 degrees centigrade. The Columbus's homeland is safe from cold winds while the sea gives its tender warmth to it. But it is not only the caress of the sea that Genoa lived in. The sign on the marble arch reminds you of the terrifying Second World War times: "the native land for its children who were fighting on the land, on the sea and in the sky…"…

Local airport is also a unique thing as its runway goes close to the sea, so when the plane is rising into the sky you can imagine yourself on a hydroplane.

But lets turn back to the city's streets, the square in front of the Museum of Art. Here, on the advertisement board, you can see colourful pictures of the frescos that were created by the masters of the past. A woman and a man dressed in ancient clothes, musicians… These people lived here five hundred years ago. They loved their city while the artists loved these people who were their models at the same time. The artists left us the images of faces, movements and even feelings that belonged to our ancestors.

And you can be totally sure that there's more than enough of dynamics, fun and active intercourse on Genoa's streets. Here's an actor performs in front of children. They know the plot by heart but, anyway, they meet every remark with shouts of joy. Mothers and fathers are also in raptures over this. Genoa is truly a wonderful place which will never lose its fascination.