LucadeaLuca is the creator of this site. He travels the world for work and loves taking photographs and sharing them with all his visitors.

The arcades of XX Settembre Street in Genoa.
Among the things worth seeing in central Genoa, the arcades of XX Settembre Street are one of those places that always make me slow down. In the heart of Genoa, Liguria, Italy, I have walked along this street many times and I still cannot resist photographing its arcades, especially this particular section, which I consider the most beautiful, with its columns and arches decorated in contrasting white and black stone.
XX Settembre Street is one of the main streets in the city center, and walking along it means passing through a very recognizable part of modern Genoa. For me, however, the real attraction is found beneath the arcades. As you walk between the arches, the perspective keeps changing, while the columns create a repeating sequence that almost seems to invite you to look for the next composition.
This particular section is my favorite. The columns, arches and black-and-white stone decoration create a very precise rhythm, especially when seen one after another. There is no need to add another subject to the frame. The architecture itself, together with the perspective, is enough to create the photograph.
Something similar happens almost every time I pass here. I may have photographed the same spot several times already, but sooner or later I still find myself reaching for my camera. A slightly different position, distance or framing can make the same arcades look surprisingly different.
That is one of the things I enjoy most about urban photography. A familiar place does not necessarily become boring simply because you have already seen it. In fact, returning to the same location often makes you notice details that were previously lost in the background.
The contrasting white and black stone is probably the feature that makes this view so recognizable. The alternation is not merely decorative; it gives the architecture a strong visual rhythm and creates an effective contrast in photographs. Here, I wanted the columns and arches to lead the eye through the depth of the image.
One small historical detail about XX Settembre Street is that it was developed between the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as part of the major urban transformation of this area of Genoa. The street was named after September 20, 1870, the date associated with the capture of Rome through the breach at Porta Pia and a key moment in the completion of Italian unification.
If you are looking for things to see in Genoa from an architectural point of view, the arcades of XX Settembre Street are an interesting subject without even leaving the city center. For anyone who enjoys photographing perspectives, columns and architectural details, this street offers plenty of possibilities simply by walking and paying attention to how the view changes.
I wanted to capture with my camera the section that I personally consider the most beautiful. Not because it is necessarily the only interesting part, but because it is the one that repeatedly makes me look up, follow the perspective of the arcades and take another photograph before continuing my walk.
This photograph also connects naturally with other posts on my site dedicated to Genoa and its architectural details. I enjoy documenting the city through these everyday views because they create a personal record that goes beyond the landmarks most commonly photographed.
In the end, this image comes from a very simple habit: walking along XX Settembre Street, seeing those columns and arches once again and thinking that they are worth photographing one more time. Some places become so familiar that they eventually become part of our own photographic memory.

Do you have a favorite section of XX Settembre Street that you find more beautiful than the others? Add a comment or go to the bottom of the site to read what other visitors have written.

Photo taken with camera Canon EOS M100 and lens Canon EF-S 10-18.

Here’s where the street is:

What is September 20th—the date behind the many streets named “Via XX Settembre”? On that day in 1870, the Italian army captured Rome following the breach at Porta Pia; it marked the end of the Papal States.
Read more at Il Post

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