Genoa's Highlights and Old Shops

We will take a walk down the oldest medieval city center in Europe, to explore the highlights as well as some of the historical shops. The Genoese are not fond of large department stores, on the contrary, they prefer the "one of a kind" small shops. The local Chamber of Commerce, in order to preserve this enormous patrimony, has established the register of the ancient shops, "Botteghe storiche". They have to meet some requirements such as architectural elements conservation, original antique furniture and still functioning equipment, documentation that proves the history of the shop and its environmental context. A walk through the old town will allow you to take a look to the many goods on display in the windows of confectioneries, barber shops, pharmacies, chocolate shops, tailors, textiles, antique bookshops, shoe shops, and when possible we will enter for a short visit; at the end of the tour, before going back to the designated point, we will stop by a chocolate shop to take away a small souvenir.