We decided to make Genoa our home base for three nights so we could explore the Cinque-Terre, the French Riviera and Lake Como. Besides offering a place to put our heads down at night, Genoa surprised us with its beauty and charm. I was expecting a large, gritty port city. Instead, the area boasts museums, palaces (42 of which are part of the Palazzi dei Rolli UNESCO site), churches and even an aquarium. (more…)