In the face of hard times, Genoa provides a rich Boat Show and a variety of correlated events.
Genoa is known as “La Superba” (the Superb, or if you like, the Haughty One) but when the annual Boat Show comes round, the distinguished dowager sexes it up quite a bit for nine riotous days among traffic and visitors.
Genoa International Boat Show aims to provide an exciting venue where building yards, designers, suppliers and customers can meet over a nine-day period in a marine environment. Potential purchasers have the chance of making a sea-trial together with the builder, supplier of engine, propulsion, or sails. It's an opportunity for comparative window-shopping for anything from an inflatable rubber dingy, racing or cruising sail-boat to a billionaire luxury yacht. It's a place for dealers and builders to meet and do business.
Visitors to the Boat Show enjoy more than the holiday atmosphere of a large marina, they live a real seaport. The entrance to the harbour is adjacent to the exhibition area. To see a large ferry or giant cruise ship passing close by is quite a spectacle for the unaccustomed. The busy cruise and ferry terminals lie in the centre of town, ro-ro ferries ply between Genoa and Sardinia, Sicily, Naples, Corsica, Tunis, Morocco, and Spain. Some 4000-passenger maxi cruise ships visit Genoa regularly as part of their Mediterranean itineraries. The characteristic old town lies around the port area.
This year's Show will be held from 6th to 14th October, at the Fiera di Genova, its traditional location. The layout extends over four different pavilions surrounded by generous open areas leading to two marinas with an extension of floating jetties.
Visitors have the chance to see some of the most prestigious yachts on the market, either in water or on land.
The exhibitors do not cater only to an Italian clientèle. Emerging markets such as Russia, Brazil and China represent this year's special target. In July, the organizers presented the Show to the Press in Milan, and then, for the first time, in Moscow. The website, previously available in Italian and English, has now entry pages in Chinese, Russian, Portuguese, Spanish, French and German.
This “Salone Nautico” strives to have something for everyone, and besides some 2000 craft on view, there are sections devoted to professional and amateur diving equipment, all kinds of technical accessories from in- or out-board engines down to the nuts and bolts, as well as clothing and furnishings.
The previous edition attracted about 226,000 visitors (13% down on 2010). This compares with over 300,000 visitors in the years up to 2008.
The Italian pleasure boating industry is one of the country's prime sectors, in spite of a drop in activity registered in the first half of the current year. Italian design and nautical experience give Italy a head start even over countries like Germany. Sales are mainly directed towards export, 80% of the total in 2011 against 67% of the total in 2010, reported by UCINA, the Italian Marine Industry Association.
The organizers of this year's event are pulling out all the stops to return to growth, including special attempts to attract young people – the potential buyers of the coming years.
The Italian Sailing Federation will set up their 2012 Weymouth Olympic and Paralympic Village at the entrance to the Boat Show, exhibiting the sailing boats used in England this summer and presenting the Olympic classes for the Rio 2016 Games. Nearby, children can have a direct experience of sailing or some water sports in a special pool. This should appeal specially to youngsters not normally having access to sea, river or lake,enticed by water sports but needing confidence to try.
As a further new and welcome feature for families, children up to the age of 14 can enter the Show free of charge, if accompanied by an adult.
Disabled visitors can enjoy much of the show using one of the four-wheel scooters or wheelchairs available for reservation from “Terre di Mare”.
Genoa has plenty to offer those (family members) not too interested in looking at boats. A trip to Portofino or Camogli, for instance!
Genoa's important Aquarium gives some discount to Boat Show visitors and exhibitors, and youngsters will love it. Close by is the City of Children, which has been renovated and will reopen on October 9th.
Art-lovers can enjoy the exhibition opening in the Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace) on October 5th, “MIRO'! Poesia e Luce” (Poetry and Light), including over 80 works by Joan Mirò. The exhibition will run until March 3rd 2013, but there are likely to be queues during the Boat Show week, so better to book in advance.
And for foodies? Don't leave Genoa without trying some popular local specialities such as trofie or trenette al pesto (pasta dishes with basil pesto), focaccia al formaggio (thin bready crust with runny fresh cheese, very messy and very tasty), or the famous torte salate (vegetable pies filled with artichokes, spinach, or beet-leaves, etc.), or farinata (a sort of salty crepe made with chick-pea flour).
