Castelletto Belvedere

Sometimes, the best way to take in a city is simply to look at it. In Genoa, there’s no better place for that than the Castelletto Belvedere. Perched high above the old town, this stunning terrace can be reached in several ways, on foot or by funicular. However you choose to reach it, the reward is the same, a breathtaking 360-degree view over the rooftops of Genoa. From up here, you’ll spot the tiled tops of old houses, the domes of Baroque churches, the spires of medieval towers, and the shimmering Mediterranean Sea. It's hard to imagine now, but this peaceful spot was a military lookout until 1849, occupied by the old Castelletto fortress. Fearing it might fall into enemy hands and be used to attack Genoa from above, the townspeople demanded it be demolished. Nothing of the original fort remains, except its name, Castelletto, meaning “little castle”. The viewpoint rose to fame in 1910, when the Alinari brothers, pioneers of photography, captured its beauty in a series of striking images. Since then, the Castelletto Belvedere has continued to grow in renown. Now, with your visit, you’ve become part of its story too.