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Genoa's Historic Aqueduct: Walking Routes and Tips for Exploring It
Away from Genoa's busiest streets, a historic waterway winds through the woods and hills of the Bisagno Valley. For centuries, it played an essential role in supplying the city with water. Today, Genoa's Historic Aqueduct is partly accessible as a walking route, where you can still see old stone bridges, channels and other reminders of its past.
Stretching over 40 kilometres at its greatest extent, with several sections now open to walkers, the aqueduct offers a chance to explore a lesser-known side of Genoa, combining nature walks, small villages and fascinating pieces of local history.
If you're staying at Hotel Astoria Genova, near Brignole railway station, you can reach the Bisagno Valley by public transport and choose a walking route according to how much time you have available.
The History of Genoa's Aqueduct: From Roman Times to Today
To understand just how important the aqueduct was to Genoa, we need to go back more than two thousand years, when the Romans built the first system of channels to carry water from the Bisagno stream into the city.
As the centuries passed and the population grew, the original system could no longer meet the city's needs. Major expansion work began in the 11th century and continued over the following centuries, eventually extending the aqueduct to more than 40 kilometres.
What's particularly interesting is that the water reached the city using gravity alone. The channels followed a carefully calculated gradient, while bridges and other structures allowed the water to cross valleys and other natural obstacles along the way.
With the construction of more modern water supply systems, the old aqueduct gradually began to lose its original function during the 19th century, although some sections remained in use well into the 20th century. Today, its surviving structures offer a glimpse into Genoa's past and a chance to see an impressive feat of engineering that served the city for centuries.
Walking Routes Along Genoa's Historic Aqueduct
You don't need to walk the entire length of the aqueduct to appreciate it. There are several routes to choose from, some passing through the green hills of the Bisagno Valley and others closer to the city centre. The PedestriBus guide, produced in collaboration with AMT and the Italian Alpine Club (CAI), describes four routes of different lengths and characteristics.
From Cavassolo to Molassana, Through Bridges and Old Villages
This route covers approximately 7 kilometres, starting in Cavassolo, in the upper Bisagno Valley, and following the old aqueduct to Molassana. Along the way, it passes through wooded areas, small settlements and several canal bridges, including the one over the Rio Concasca.
It's a good opportunity to enjoy a walk away from traffic while seeing how the aqueduct was designed to follow the natural contours of Genoa's hills.
The Geirato Loop and the Route Towards Staglieno
From Molassana, you can take the Geirato loop, a route of approximately 6 kilometres that follows the aqueduct's 17th-century course through woodland and old villages such as San Bernardo and Carpi.
Alternatively, if you'd rather head towards the city centre, you can follow the approximately 8-kilometre route from Molassana to Staglieno. Along this section, you'll come across more remains of the old water channels and walk through the hills overlooking the Bisagno Valley, eventually reaching the area near Staglieno Monumental Cemetery.
From Manin to the Old Port, Following the Aqueduct Through the City
If you prefer an urban walk, there's also a route of approximately 3.5 kilometres starting from Piazza Manin and continuing through Castelletto to the Old Port
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Unlike the previous routes, this one doesn't follow a continuous surviving section of the aqueduct. Instead, it allows you to trace the water's historic journey through the city, making use of Genoa's historic public lifts and hillside transport systems along the way.
For more detailed information about the routes and access points, you can consult the Historic Aqueduct PedestriBus guide, which includes maps and public transport connections. Before setting off, it's worth checking the current condition of your chosen route, as some sections may have access restrictions.
What to See Along the Route
Among the most interesting structures along the Historic Aqueduct are the Geirato and Veilino siphon bridges, two large arched constructions built to solve a very practical problem: carrying water across valleys without having to follow long, landslide-prone routes.
The Geirato siphon bridge, in Molassana, dates back to the late 18th century and is approximately 640 metres long. Here, water flowed through pipes that descended to the valley floor before rising again on the opposite side, using the principle of communicating vessels.
Closer to the city stands the Veilino siphon bridge, built in the 19th century to a design by architect Carlo Barabino. Its 19 arches span the valley near Staglieno Monumental Cemetery, offering an unusual perspective on this part of Genoa.
Both bridges are remarkable examples of hydraulic engineering from their respective periods. However, if you'd like to walk across them, you'll need to check the opening dates organised by local associations, which are listed on Genoa's official tourism website.
How to Reach the Historic Aqueduct and Plan Your Walk
One of the advantages of Genoa's Historic Aqueduct is that many of its walking routes can be reached by public transport, so you don't need a car.
If you'd like to explore the Bisagno Valley sections, Molassana is a useful starting point. You can reach it from the city centre on bus line 14, which departs from Brignole station. From there, several access points lead to different sections of the aqueduct, allowing you to choose whichever route appeals to you. For the urban itinerary, you can start from Piazza Manin, which is also easily accessible from the city centre.
Before setting off, we always recommend checking the official maps and current trail conditions. Although many sections are relatively straightforward, it's best to wear comfortable walking shoes, bring some water and remember that the paths can be uneven or slippery after rain.