"Ancient maps and parchment books Set at the end of the Street of the Palaces, the tiny Bozzi Antica Libreria (founded in 1810 and still going strong!) is a lovely homage to maritime bookstores of the past - warm woods and cigar smoke mingling with that smell of old paper. Step inside to find rare and hard to find nautical books and beautifully hand-drawn maps of Liguria and the surrounding coastline."

"Have your shirt (or tie) hand-made While Enrico himself did not open his shop until 1998, he works in a building, and continues a tradition, that dates back centuries. You can purchase one of his hand-tailored shirts 'off the rack', or splurge a bit and have him make one exactly to your specifications (with his signature double-button collar). Or grab a specialty tie with a striking nautical flag embroidered embelishment."

"Making candies for nearly 200 years Take one step inside this stunning candy shop and be breathlessly taken back in time - nearly 200 years! Lining the back are glass jars of every color candy, and the front cases are stuffed to bursting with chocolates, gianduja (think nutella), and candied fruits. If you come during the Easter season, make sure you try the Ravioli di Carnevale - small confections made of almost paste stuffed with morsels of chocolate-hazelnut cream."

"Walk out with treats in blue paper Inspired by the beautiful French chocolate salons, Romanengo Pietro fu Stefano fashioned their old-town shop just as the French - with gorgeous old woods, glass display cases, and gold-gilded platters. Pop into this store, unchanged since its opening in 1814, and leave with parcels of truffles, almond-paste confections, and crunchy pinoli dragees wrapped in their signature dark blue paper."

"Shave and a haircut, circa 1920 Looking to have an authentic old-world barbershop experience? If so, come visit the tiny (only 10 total square meters!) Barbiere near the ancient port. Originally opened in 1882, the barber shop was renovated by the owner's son in 1922 to the art deco appeal of the era - and remains untouched today. From the chairs, to the tools, to the telephone, stepping into this barber shop is truly a step back in time - and you can leave with a stellar shave, as well!"

"Listen to the music of all the moving parts If you are in Genoa during the Christmas season (which in Italy runs from about December 8 - January 6), you must stop by Butteghetta Magica to gaze at (and purchase!) their incredible, and often mechanical, creche pieces. With a display that takes up the entire store front, pause for a moment before you enter the store to just listen - the ticking and spinning of the moving pieces is magically haunting."

"Coffee with a story Genoa history recounts Torrefazione Fratelli Boasi as the only shop that was allowed to sell coffee during the steep rationing that occurred during the Second World War (can you even imagine the lines that must have wound down this tiny alley??) - and more than sixty years later, you can still buy delicious coffee in this small shop. If you like chocolate with your espresso, you can also snag some delicious sweet treats (I am partial to any combination of milk chocolate and hazelnuts, but feel free to go wild) inside this tiny historical store."

"Four generations of pastry-makers Since 1890, Pasticceria Tagliafico has been making delicious, traditional Genovese pastries and cakes (including the candied-fruit studded Pandolce). Located across the street from the main Mercato Orientale, this lovely large pastry shop offers plenty of options for take-away shoppers (wrapped cookies, candies, and fresh-baked croissants (brioche, in Genoa ) are some of my favorites)."