I’ve always loved Italy and here we are prepping for Sunday Mass in Genoa, our 2nd port of call on this Mediterranean Cruise. After Marseille, we were hoping for no youth riots and some Sunday peace. We got it. We cabbed our way from the cruise terminal to Piazza Ferrari. It is just a short walk from this piazza to Palazzo Ducale near the Catedrale de San Lorenzo. Passed some interesting shops and focaccia stalls and promised ourselves we’d be enjoying some Genovese bread and pastries.
Piazza Ferrari
The Cathedral has a lot of history. A World War 2 bomb hit the church but did not detonate. Dropped by the British in 1941, the bomb damaged the roof but failed to explode. Lodged in the church roofing, it is so incredible that the bomb was disarmed and now on display inside the church as a reminder of this miracle. The Genoa Cathedral draws many tourists wishing to view this beautiful church with Gothic portals and centuries-old frescoes. Besides, kept inside the cathedral are the ashes of San Giovanni Battista (Saint John the Baptist) who is the patron saint of Genoa.
The “Miracle” Bomb
We tried entering the Museo del Tesoro adjoining the church but it was closed. It is an underground medieval museum actually with access from inside the church. Among the relics is Sacro Catino, a dish allegedly used by Jesus Christ in the Last Supper. Not too far from the Cathedral is another beautiful church — the Chiesa del Gesù. Just like all other Gesù churches, the outside architecture and the interiors are so elegantly beautiful.
We didn’t leave Genoa or Genova without trying the famous Genovese focaccia. We queued up to buy the Classic as well as the focaccia della chipolla. We ate them standing up, like locals 😋 and for good measure, snatched up a pan dolci pistachio e chocolato and torta di nonna (which was soooo good). We traced back our steps to Piazza Ferrari after those snacks, and cabbed our way back to the boat. Back to our floating crib. Our second port of call is over.
