Genoa Cathedral (Cattedrale di San Lorenzo)

The Cattedrale di San Lorenzo, Genoa Cathedral, stands on Piazza San Lorenzo in the Centro Storico of Genoa, in Liguria, Italy. Its facade is striped in black and white marble, a pattern typical of medieval Ligurian and Tuscan churches, and it combines a Gothic portal carved with a Last Judgement with a Renaissance dome that rises above the old town roofs. Two stone lions flank the steps at the entrance and are a popular photo spot, especially for families. Inside, visitors find a long nave striped in the same alternating marble, side chapels, and works of art accumulated over centuries. The cathedral remains an active place of worship, so it closes to tourists during services and visitors are expected to cover shoulders and knees. Entry to the cathedral itself is free. The Treasury Museum (Museo del Tesoro della Cattedrale) is reached separately and is charged separately; its best-known object is the Sacro Catino, a vessel long associated with Genoese tradition, along with other liturgical treasures. The treasury ticket office is reported open Monday to Saturday, 9:00AM to 12:00PM and 3:00PM to 6:00PM, and the cathedral towers also carry a separate fee, with prices to be confirmed locally or via visitgenoa.it. A visit to the cathedral alone takes about 30 to 45 minutes, while a combined visit with the treasury and a careful look at the facade carvings takes 45 to 90 minutes. Mid-morning, outside Mass times, is generally the calmest period; the square becomes busier at midday when groups pass through the old town. The cathedral is a short walk from De Ferrari metro station, about five minutes, and about 10 minutes from San Giorgio station. It sits close to Palazzo Ducale and the main streets of the historic centre, so it combines easily with a walking route through the medieval alleys of Genoa.