Genoa — La Superba, capital of the Ligurian Sea

Genoa, capital of Liguria, built its wealth as one of the great medieval maritime republics, trading and warring across the Mediterranean for close to a thousand years. The nickname La Superba — "the proud one" — dates from that era, when Genoese merchant fleets and banking houses rivalled Venice's. The city's historic centre, wedged between the sea and the Apennine hills, remains one of the largest and best-preserved in Europe, its narrow caruggi alleys opening unexpectedly onto grand Renaissance and Baroque palaces.

Those palaces are the heart of Genoa's UNESCO recognition: on 13 July 2006, the Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli — 42 of the city's grandest 16th- and 17th-century residences, once drawn by lot to host visiting heads of state — entered the World Heritage List. Genoa marks the twentieth anniversary of that inscription through 2026.

What the cameras show

Genoa beyond the webcams

Palazzi dei Rolli: 42 Renaissance and Baroque palaces along the Strade Nuove, once drawn by lot to host state visits, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006.

Porto Antico & the Bigo: the old port, redeveloped by Genoa-born architect Renzo Piano for the 1992 Columbus quincentenary, is now home to Italy's largest aquarium.

Nervi: a seaside district east of the centre, its cliffside Passeggiata Anita Garibaldi and Parchi di Nervi gardens among the city's favourite escapes from the historic core.

When to watch

Porto Antico, daylight hours: for the busiest views of the old port and the Bigo, when the waterfront fills with visitors.

Getting there: Piazza De Ferrari sits at the heart of Genoa's historic centre; La Lanterna and Porto Antico are both within walking distance of the port, Liguria, Italy.