Festivals, events and traditions

Enjoying Genoa

Tanti consigli sugli hotel di Genova per slendide vacanze a Genova

Genova

Vedi Dettagli

Vota

visitatori

Available translations:

[it]
[en]
[fr]
[de]

Traditional Genoa The "Genova tradizioni"(Genoa traditions) trademark was created in 2001 by initiative of the Department for the Promotion of the City and Communication of the Genoa City Council to identify, enhance and promote that important and fascinating heritage consisting of the Genoese traditional festivals and events.

Even the graphic design of the trademark, which was conceived by Genoa-based Studio Firma, is a reference to Genoa’s history and traditions: the towers, the city gates (the city’s name – in Italian Genova - derives from the Latin Janua, meaning ‘gate’), the famous ‘Torretta’ silver hallmark.

Of the most important traditional festivals and events taking place in Genoa throughout the year, many are known beyond the city borders; indeed, some of them are famous at a national and even an international level.

Flower altar during holy week The Holy Week Traditions, for example, are unique in the way they are lived and followed by the Genoese.

On Maundy Thursday, and for the whole of the next day, the Genoese churches put up - and they have done so since the Middle Ages - the so-called Altars of the Deposition, a triumph of flowers, candles, brocades and precious furnishings in the midst of which sits the Eucharist. On the evening of Maundy Thursday, the historic and evocative Procession of the Confraternities takes place in the seven oldest and most important churches in the old city, a tradition which dates back to the 15th century.

The Nativity Scenes put up in churches and museums across Genoa and its province from the 8th of December till the 2nd of February are the product of historical and artistic excellence and the re-enactment of a wonderful tradition.

At the sanctuary known as Santuario della Madonnetta, a nativity scene dating back to the 18th century features impressive polychrome wood sculptures amidst a beautiful and evocative setting, in which it is possible to recognise the most important Genoese landmarks of those times.
The nativity scene can be visited all year round.