Storyteller Secrets Walk, 3 Hours

Overview

A walk with a difference: on this tour the history of Genoa arrives partly in song. The guide, who travellers repeatedly describe as friendly and knowledgeable, carries a small stringed instrument and performs original songs about the city at stops along the route. Reviewers who have taken it call the format unique, with one noting it was nothing like a tour that simply recites facts.

The route concentrates on the oldest part of the historical center. It begins in the medieval Carmine district, continues past Renaissance noble palaces on Via Lomellini and the old trading arcades of Sottoripa, then reaches the Embriaci Tower, the tallest in Genoa, and the colorful square of Campopisano. The final stretch follows the legendary Redbeard walls and ends at Porta Soprana, one of the gates of the old town, near the house linked to Christopher Columbus.

Beyond the songs, several reviewers highlight the practical side: recommendations for restaurants and further places to visit, and alleys and courtyards they would never have found alone. The tour runs in Italian or English and lasts three hours.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at the BasilicaMeet the guide next to the entrance of Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato. Arrive ten minutes before the scheduled start time.
2. Carmine districtWalk through the medieval district of Carmine, where the Storyteller performs a song evoking the lively atmosphere of the past.
3. Via Lomellini palacesAdmire the Renaissance noble palaces along Via Lomellini.
4. SottoripaPass along this historic street where trade flourished from the Middle Ages onward.
5. Embriaci Tower and CampopisanoStop by the Embriaci Tower, the tallest in Genoa, then visit the colorful square of Campopisano for more songs about legends and historical events.
6. Redbeard walls and Porta SopranaWalk along the legendary walls, learning history through music, and finish at Porta Soprana, one of the old town gates, close to the Christopher Columbus house.

What To Expect From The Tour

Three hours on foot through the historical center, with regular stops for songs and stories. Here is what helps to know beforehand.

• Footwear and pace. The listing asks for comfortable shoes, and the route covers alleys and back courtyards rather than main streets. Several reviewers mention narrow lanes they would not otherwise have entered, so expect a wandering pace with frequent pauses.
• Music at stops. The guide performs his own songs about the city, accompanied by a small instrument he explains first. Reviewers consistently describe this as the tour's distinctive feature, so go in open to a sung format rather than a lecture.
• Local recommendations. Multiple reviewers say the guide gave useful suggestions for restaurants and further sights. Several found these tips a useful starting point for the rest of their stay.
• Weather. The walk runs outdoors through old lanes. One reviewer reported touring in heavy rain and noted the tour still went ahead, so a rain jacket is a reasonable precaution.
• Food and drink. Nothing edible is included, per the listing. Eat beforehand or plan a stop afterward, since three hours of walking adds up.
• Language. The tour is offered in Italian and English. Reviewers who took it in English described the guide's English as good and easy to follow.

Common issues. The tour is entirely on foot and outdoors, so bad weather can make it less comfortable, and one reviewer experienced rain throughout. Food and drinks are not included, only the guide. Pickup is not provided, so travellers must make their own way to the meeting point by the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato and arrive ten minutes early. Reviews raise no complaints about the guide or content; the practical limits are the walking, the weather and the fixed meeting arrangement.

Common Questions