Corso Italia

Corso Italia is a two-and-a-half-kilometre promenade in Genoa’s eastern district of Albaro. It links the Foce and Boccadasse neighbourhoods across a stretch of Ligurian coast. The route follows the line where the hills meet the sea, offering views over the Gulf of Genoa. Before the First World War the area was a network of narrow cliff paths and farm tracks. In 1914 planners approved a grand scheme to turn the eastern suburbs into an elegant seaside quarter. After the war the promenade was built, and in the late 1980s it was rebuilt with new pavements and street furniture. The promenade is a favourite route for Genoese walkers and runners all year round. Private beaches, restaurants, bars and swimming pools line its length, drawing crowds in every season. Along the way stand the Punta Vagno lighthouse, installed in 1931, and the medieval San Giuliano Abbey built in 1282. Nearby the fortress of San Giuliano overlooks the coast as one of the sixteen forts in the Walls of Genoa. The Nuovo Lido of Albaro once hosted the Miss Italia selection runway, where Sophia Loren was crowned Miss Lido in the 1950s. At the eastern end lies the picturesque fishing village of Boccadasse, with its colourful houses and small harbour. Visitors find a broad, tree-lined avenue running straight from Foce to Boccadasse. Benches and lampposts line the path, while beach clubs and cafés open directly onto the sand. The abbey and fortress sit on low cliffs above the promenade, their stone walls weathered by sea winds. The lighthouse marks the midpoint, its red-and-white tower guiding small boats into the bay. At dusk the lights of the gulf reflect on the water, and the sound of waves mixes with the murmur from the bars. The fishing village at the far end still keeps its old charm, with boats pulled up on the shingle beach.