Lighthouse of Genoa Museum

Address: Piazza della Lanterna, 16126 Genoa, Italy

Website: https://www.lanternagenova.it/en/

Hours: Exterior viewpoint always accessible; interior museum hours vary (check official site before visiting).

Admission: Lanterna di Genova: Free to view from outside; museum/visits inside and climbing may have admission (approx. €2-€5 when open to public).

The Lighthouse of Genoa, known locally as the Lanterna, is the historic lighthouse that marks the entrance to the Port of Genoa and serves as a city symbol. The tower has medieval origins and the surviving structure reflects early modern rebuilding and later conservation.

The Lanterna remains an active lighthouse and houses a small museum interpreting its maritime and urban history; visitors can tour parts of the structure and reach viewpoints that overlook the harbour. The tower’s elevated position provides wide views across Genoa’s docks and the Ligurian Sea.

The lighthouse originated in the medieval era and was rebuilt and modified in later centuries to serve evolving navigational and defensive needs; conservation work has preserved its external form while enabling public access. It has long been central to Genoa’s identity as a maritime city.

The Lanterna sits on the headland at the mouth of Genoa’s harbour in the Liguria region, within the city’s port area and easily visible from much of the historic waterfront.

• Active aid to navigation: The current tower dates from the early modern period and the lighthouse remains an active navigational aid for the Port of Genoa.
• Visitor access and views: The tower is one of the city’s best viewpoints for panoramic views over Genoa’s harbour and historic centre; visitor access to the tower and museum is available on scheduled days.

What to See#

• Lantern tower: The historic tower and lantern that form the working lighthouse, rising above the harbour to serve as the primary navigational light for the Port of Genoa.
• Museum and visitor area: A small museum and visitor area interpreting the lighthouse’s maritime history and its role in the city’s port operations.

The Lanterna is about 2-3 km west of Genoa’s historic centre; take local buses (AMT lines toward the port) or a taxi from Piazza De Ferrari (about 10-15 minutes by car). There is pedestrian access along the harbour promenade for those willing to walk 25-35 minutes from central Genoa.

• View the Lanterna at sunset from the promenade for dramatic light and harbour activity; early mornings yield calmer water and better photos.
• Combine the lighthouse visit with the nearby Galata Museo del Mare for a fuller picture of Genoa's maritime history.
• Check ahead for access-interior climbs and museum sections are sometimes closed for restoration or special events.