Genoa, Italy, city of
Genoa, Italy, city of
(Italian: Genova)
City and former republic, Italy . An important seaport in ancient and medieval times, the republic enjoyed municipal freedom from 1339 , when the first doge was elected, until 1797 , but was always the center of strife and rebellion. Its first bishop was Saint Solomon, martyred , 269 ; first archbishop , Saint Dyrus, 1133 . The city aided in the First Crusade , was the seat of a university founded by Bartolomeo Bianco (1471 ), was the home of Innocent IV and Adrian V, and the scene of several councils, in 733 , 1216 , and 1292 . It was the birth-place of Christopher Columbus . The churches of San Lorenzo, founded, 1100 , Saint Catherine of Genoa , where the saint’s body is preserved in a silver urn, Saints Cosmas and Damian , antedating 1000, and the Gesu Maria, erected in 1487 , are some of the magnificent specimens of architecture which won for Genoa the title “La Superba” (the Proud).