Genoa!


While Genoa might sound like the name of a Disney princess, it is in fact a grime-covered port city located in the Ligurian region.

Liguria is the postcard-gorgeous coastal region of Italy, which is home to lux vacation destinations such as Cinque Terre and the impossibly chic Portofino.

Gritty Genoa, however, eats chic summer bungalows for breakfast. 

Walking around Genoa with my camera in hand, I received looks of skepticism and confusion. While Genoa has its moments of grandeur, it mostly consists of dark, wet streets and crumbling residential housing.

And yet, once you have a taste of famous Genovese pesto, or a bite of crispy focaccia, your fear of being mugged at any given second seems to dissipate.


For a truly local experience, I went to Cucina Mario, located near the port in an unassuming back-alley.

Surrounded by families and sailors on their lunch break, I started out the meal with fresh seafood drizzled with olive oil, followed by pasta with pesto. Add a quarter liter of wine, and you’ll only be out about 10 euros.

I won't be returning to Genoa anytime soon, yet the outstanding food and sheer integrity of this city is enough to win my complete and utter respect. 



Fruit Stand
Alley

Workers

Port Girl


Genovese Couple 




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