Piazza de Ferrari

This piazza is one of the main plazas in the city and is the largest pedestrian open space in the area. It is located in the heart of the historic district and very near the lively Piazza del Erbe. After a night at Erbe, the Piazza de Ferrari is the best place to catch a cab quickly if the need should arise. This piazza is dominated by the large circular fountain in the center and the pounding sound it produces. This fountain creates a spectacular sight and sounds. Despite its classic form, the fountatin is doing a variety of interesting things with the movement and sound of the water. The main jets of the fountain shoot the water at great pressure into the central bowl and up out of it and create the loudest of the fountain's sounds and its most dominating visual feature. The overflow of the bowl creates a similar rushing noise and a spray that will mist those sitting at the fountain's edge. From here the water is spewed out through the iron masks at the edge of that level. The most delicate of the fountain's movements and noises is the trickle of the water over the grooved edge of the next level. Here the water is at rest only a few inches before the low seating wall that surrounds the fountain. Three sides of the piazza are bordered by the smaller gurgling fountains seen in the background of the far right picture. These produce their own distinct sound if you listen for it. These fountains are bordered on the outside of the piazza by more low seating walls that provide a place to sit and rest from the sidewalk without entering the plaza. They also help to block street noise from entering the piazza. The plaza is bounded on one side by the Palazzo Ducale (now a museum) and the stairs of the Palazzo act as a gathering space particuarly for young people. This space is one of the most famous and beautiful in Genoa and will no doubt be used and enjoyed by any visitor to the city on many occasions.

Elizabeth Conte