Castelletto is a residential quarter of

Genoa Genoa ( ; ; ) is a city in and the capital of the Italian region of Liguria, and the sixth-largest city in Italy. As of 2025, 563,947 people live within the city's administrative limits. While its metropolitan city has 818,651 inhabitan ...

, north-western Italy. It occupies a hilly area which, until the construction of the New Walls in the 17th century, was located outside of the city. The quarter is now part of the city's Municipio I Centro Est and comprises three urban units (Castelletto, Manin and San Nicola) which, , had a total population of 28,857 combined. The name, meaning "small castle" in Italian, comes from a fort overlooking the center of Genoa, recorded as early as the 10th century AD and dismantled in the late 19th century to make way to residential buildings and the panoramic belvedere in the so-called Spianata di Castelletto.

Tourist sights

*The belvedere in the Spianata di Castelletto, the location of the dismantled fort that gave the quarter its name, has views over the Old City and the Gulf of Genoa. *The Basilica of Holy Mary Immaculate in via Assarotti, completed in 1904 in neo-Renaissance style. *The Albergo dei Poveri ("Hostel of the Poor"), a complex built in the late 17th century as a shelter for the poor. It is now owned by the

University of Genoa The University of Genoa () is a public research university. It is one of the largest universities in Italy and it is located in the city of Genoa, on the Italian Riviera in the Liguria region of northwestern Italy. The original university was fou ...

, which houses its Political Sciences Faculty there. *Villetta di Negro, a hill park occupying the 16th century bastion of St. Caterina, which has artificial caves and waterfalls. *Villa Pallavicino or Villa delle Peschiere (16th century) * D'Albertis Castle, a

Gothic Revival Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic or neo-Gothic) is an Architectural style, architectural movement that after a gradual build-up beginning in the second half of the 17th century became a widespread movement in the first half ...

architecture now housing the Museum of World Cultures * Mackenzie Castle, another Gothic Revival manor now used for exhibitions designed by Gino Coppedè (who also designed the nearby Castello Bruzzo) *Church of Nostra Signora di Lourdes e San Bernardo *Church of San Nicola da Tolentino *Baroque sanctuary of Madonnetta, housing Baroque artworks by Giuseppe Gaggini's school, by Giovanni Battista Paggi and by

Anton Maria Maragliano Anton Maria Maragliano (18 September 1664 – 7 March 1739) was an Italian sculptor of the Baroque period, known primarily for his wooden statues. He was born in Genoa, where he led an important workshop. He is called also Maraggiano by some ...

. It is home to a permanent example of local

nativity scene In the Christian tradition, a nativity scene (also known as a manger scene, crib, crèche ( or ), or in Italian ''presepio'' or ''presepe'', or Bethlehem) is the special exhibition, particularly during the Christmastide, Christmas season, of ar ...

. *The 16th century convent, pharmacy and church of Sant'Anna, and the surrounding ancient Bachernia village, with trees, cobbled walkways and views over the Gulf of Genoa, the harbor and the Old City from Salita Bachernia. *Church of

San Bartolomeo degli Armeni San Bartolomeo degli Armeni is an Armenian Catholic church in the quarter of Castelletto in Genoa, northern Italy. The church was founded in 1308 by a group of monks who were fleeing the Turkish invasion of southern Armenia. Of the original edifi ...

*Aqueduct of Genoa *17th century city walls * Forte Castellaccio and Specola Towers File:Genova Belvedere Castelletto.jpg, The ''belvedere'' in the Spianata di Castelletto, the location of the dismantled fort that gave the quarter its name. File:Genova Castelletto ponte canale acquedotto.jpg, Ancient bridge-aqueduct, belonging to the Historical Aqueduct of Genoa. File:Paolo Monti - Servizio fotografico (Genova, 1963) - BEIC 6339313.jpg, Villa Pallavicino called "delle Peschiere" photographed by

Paolo Monti Paolo Monti (11 August 1908 – 29 November 1982) was an Italian photographer known for his architectural photography. In his early period, Monti experimented with abstractionism as well as with effects such as blurring and diffraction. In 19 ...

in 1963 File:Paolo Monti - Servizio fotografico (Genova, 1963) - BEIC 6339309.jpg, Villa Gropallo dello Zerbino photographed by Paolo Monti in 1963

Sources

External links

* {{Commons category inline, Castelletto (quarter of Genoa), Castelletto Quartieri of Genoa