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 Belvedere (from Italian, meaning "beautiful sight") may refer to: Places Australia *Belvedere, Queensland, a locality in the Cassowary Coast Region Africa * Belvedere (Casablanca), a neighborhood in Casablanca, Morocco * Belvedere, Harare, Zi ...

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 Gulf of Genoa (''Golfo di Genova'') is the northernmost part of the Ligurian Sea. This Italian gulf is about wide from the city of Imperia in the west to La Spezia in the east. The largest city on its coast is Genoa, which has an importan ...

. *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 D'Albertis Castle () is a historic residence located in Genoa, in the north-western region of Italy. The castle was the former home of sea captain Enrico Alberto d'Albertis and was donated to the city of Genoa upon his death in 1932. Today, it ...

, 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 The Mackenzie Castle (Italian: ''Castello Mackenzie'') is a historical manor in the Castelletto quarter of Genoa, northern Italy. It is an example of Gothic Revival architecture. Registered as a cultural space Gino Coppedè Luigi "Gino" Coppedè (26 September 1866 – 20 September 1927) was an Italian architect, sculptor and decorator. He was an exponent of Art Nouveau. Biography Coppedè was born in Florence, a son of Mariano Coppedè and brother of Adolfo Copp ...

(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 Giovanni Battista Paggi (25 or 27 February 1554 – 12 March 1627) was an Italian painter, sculptor, and writer. His style spans the Late-Renaissance and early-Baroque. Life He was born in Genoa into the well-to-do family of his father Pellegr ...

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

, 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 Forte or Forté may refer to: Music *Forte (music), a musical dynamic meaning "loudly" or "strong" *Forte number, an ordering given to every pitch class set *Forte (notation program), a suite of musical score notation programs *Forte (vocal gro ...

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