Milano

Italy's fashion and design capital is only an hour and a half northeast of Genova.

And they do amazing things with marzipan there. (You could eat this but why?)

Also here: one of the most famous opera houses in the world.

La Scala (apparently the inside is much more impressive)

across from the theatre

Second-top tourist attraction: this bull, set in the pavement in one of Milan's oldest shopping galleries. Rub your heel in its you-know-what for luck!

Top tourist attraction (for good reason): the roof of the Duomo, Milan's largest church.

And of course:

Portofino for a day

Back in the summer, took a day trip with friends and fellow students to Portofino, the famous, tiny, very posh Italian resort town. First we took the train from Genova to Santa Margareta (an hour and a bit):

 

Then we treated ourselves to an extremely delicious breakfast:

"brioche": gelato inside a croissant. Oh baby.

Then we took the boat:

Jikke (Netherlands), Cristina (Germany), Katerina (Russia) and me

And this is Portofino.

can't explain the pink bears

sailboats on the Mediterranean

We didn't do any shopping or dine in any exorbitantly-priced restaurants or even spot any celebrities. But it was a beautiful day!

Hiking the Diamond (Fort)

On the way up:

you can see how far apart some of the houses are

Andrea, who if you can't tell is inspiringly boisterous

the city, far, far below

Genova in pictures

outside a delicatessen

"closed in the afternoon"

"eggs, cheese, wine, drinks"

the church with the best bell tower in town

you'll find icons like this on almost every building

 

some in better shape than others

one of the best bakeries in town

another storied bakery

entrance to one of the many lifts that takes you up into the hills above the city

there's a long underground walkway

awesome 19th-century castle the local globetrotter built

scooter parking on a light day

love the colours of the houses in all the cities along the Mediterranean coast

Piazza di Ferrari, the main square