Casa di Colombo, Porta Soprana e Chiostro di Sant’Andrea
Small medieval complex with the 12th-century city gate Porta Soprana, the house where Christopher Columbus lived as a child and the cloister of Sant’Andrea.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The complex occupies a medieval block near Piazza Dante, along the cobbled climb of Vico Dritto di Ponticello. The urban redevelopment works of the early 20th century changed the appearance of the area profoundly, but several monuments remain that evoke the period between the Middle Ages and the discovery of the Americas.
At the top of the climb stands Porta Soprana, built by the Genoese between 1155 and 1158 as an access to the city from the east and as a defence against an attack by Frederick Barbarossa, which never came. For this reason the walls of which it formed the main gateway are known as the “Walls of Barbarossa”. The gate, with its towers, preserves inscribed plaques celebrating the glories of Genoa and can be visited, with access to the towers and views over the city.
Further up is the house where, according to the account presented by the Musei di Genova, Christopher Columbus lived as a child between the ages of four and nine: a small memorial dedicated to the explorer, with an interior that can be visited. Next to it is the medieval cloister of the monastic church of Sant’Andrea, rebuilt here after the demolition of the church and monastery, of which it is the only surviving trace.
Highlights
- Porta Soprana with its towers and views over the city
- Plaques from 1155 on the gate
- Christopher Columbus House, a small memorial
- Medieval cloister of Sant’Andrea with figurative capitals
- Section of the Walls of Barbarossa
- Operated by
- Comune di Genova
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
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The single “Casa di Colombo” ticket costs €5 and entitles the holder to the reduced ticket for the Museo di Sant’Agostino. Tickets and the Genova Museum Card (24 hours €24, 48 hours €45) can be purchased online.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: not available
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Casa di Colombo and the Chiostro di Sant’Andrea are not accessible to people with mobility impairments because of the original structure; there are no aids for people with visual or hearing impairments. There are no toilets. Spaces reserved for holders of a disabled parking permit are in Piazza Matteotti, a 5-minute walk away.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Dante 2 / Casa di Colombo · 1-min walk
Metro: De Ferrari stop, about 3 minutes on foot. Bus: lines 17/, 20, 35, 35/, 37, 42, 617, 635, 641, 685, 686, 687; stops Dante 2/Casa di Colombo (1 minute on foot), Dante 1/De Ferrari, Ceccardi/Dante, Salita del Prione, XX Settembre 1/De Ferrari.
By car
Parking spaces reserved for holders of a disabled parking permit are in Piazza Matteotti, a 5-minute walk away.
- Accessible parking
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | The complex comprises the Casa di Colombo, the Chiostro di Sant’Andrea and Porta Soprana, with access to the towers and to the walkway along the walls. |
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