Via San Lorenzo

The street called Via San Lorenzo runs in a southeasterly direction from close to the port in Genoa to one of the city's major public piazzas.
Perhaps the biggest attraction along Via San Lorenzo is the church that shares its name – the Genoa Cathedral, or Cattedrale di San Lorenzo. It was consecrated in the early 12th century, and the square in front of the church was Genoa's only public piazza during the Middle Ages.
Today, one of Genoa's most popular piazzas is just up Via San Lorenzo – Piazza Matteotti leads from the street up to the Palazzo Ducale, and the Chiesa del Gesù e dei Santi Ambrogio e Andrea is off to one side. The church was built in the late 16th century, while the Palazzo Ducale dates from the late 13th century.

Practical Info

Via San Lorenzo runs from next to the Piazza della Raibetta, near the San Giorgio Metro stop near the port, and continues southeast past the cathedral until you reach the Piazza Matteotti. If you continue beyond the piazza, the street changes its name – but further along you'll see an impressive 12th century city gate with two semi-circular towers, as well as an 18th century reconstruction of the house in which Christopher Columbus lived as a boy.