Genoa, 'La Superba': the rise and fall of a merchant pirate superpower

Genoa has an incredible story to tell. It rose from an obscurity imposed by its harsh geography to become a merchant-pirate superpower that helped create the medieval world.

It fought bitter battles with its great rival Venice, and imprisoned Marco Polo, as the feuding city-states connected Europe to the glories of the East.

It introduced the Black Death to Europe, led the fight against the Barbary Corsairs, bankrolled Imperial Spain, and gave the world Christopher Columbus and a host of fearless explorers.

This book brings the past to life and paints a portrait of a modern port city and region that is only now coming to terms with a past that is as bloody, fascinating and influential as any in Europe.