The “skyline” of the port of Genoa in Italy continues to change. Currently, a new breakwater is being constructed that will increase the competitiveness of the Port of Genoa, by expanding its maneuvering space to accommodate large vessels, up to 400 meters in length. This will be just the latest in a series of innovations for a port that has seen significant transformations and rebirths through the centuries.
As early as the 5th century BC, the natural inlet of Mandraccio offered shelter to sailors: back then, infrastructure was practically non-existent, and it was the natural shape of the coast that aided docking. The first structures were built in the 12th century, and a century later, the Torre dei Greci was erected, although it is no longer visible today.
All technical innovations of the port of Genoa were abruptly halted in 1684 by the first naval bombardment in history: the French destroyed the port, causing such extensive damage that it took until the early 1800s to return to normal.
In this century, Genoa was annexed to the Kingdom of Sardinia, which focused heavily on the port’s development: the docks were extended, the railway network was enhanced, the seabed was dredged, and many other structural improvements were made. From the late 19th century until the outbreak of World War II, the port of Genoa was one of the most functional and modern ports in the world.
In the second half of the 20th century, the bombings of the world conflict and the numerous ships sunk off the port made maritime life particularly difficult. The works carried out for the 1992 celebrations in honor of Christopher Columbus restored the ancient port area of Genoa, which today is the beating heart and pride of a city of Italy with a millennia-old tradition.
