Immerse yourself in the opulence of the Baroque church and lavish palace and learn about jazz in the museum on this expansive plaza.
The Piazza Matteotti is among the major squares in the Old Town district of Genoa. It comprises a spacious cobbled plaza surrounded by a jumble of old and majestic buildings. Walk through the large square with your family on a warm summer night and relax at a café.
Admire the façade of the Palazzo Ducale, which is adjacent to the Piazza De Ferrari. Enter the structure to see its majestic period décor and furnishings, alongside stunning frescoes by acclaimed artists. The palace contains the Galleria San Lorenzo al Ducale art gallery.
Beside the palace is the Genova Jazz Museum, which has a collection of about 10,000 CDs and vinyl records. Get lessons at the music school and attend a concert by an acclaimed jazz artist.
Relax at a café or patisserie within the plaza and watch people pass by in this busy part of the city. Browse the stores on and around the square, which connects to several quaint alleys meandering through the Old Town.
On the southeastern corner of the piazza is the Chiesa del Gesù e dei Santi Ambrogio e Andrea, which is known for its Jesuit influence and lavish interior. Examine the range of artworks that adorn the interior walls, with the ecclesiastical canvas by Peter Paul Rubens among the highlights.
Note that the plaza is in an that shows evidence of being inhabited by the Romans. The square itself was set up in 1527 and was renamed after the Italian politician Giacomo Matteotti, who was abducted and murdered after opposing the dictator Benito Mussolini.
The Piazza Matteotti is adjacent to the Piazza De Ferrari in the heart of the historic center in Genoa. Ride the metro to the De Ferrari stop and walk southwest for several minutes to get here. Make sure to visit other nearby attractions, such as the Torre Maruffo, the Carlo Felice Theater and the Casa di Cristoforo Colombo. Attend one of the regular fairs and markets that take place on the western side of the plaza.
