Italy Guide
Liguria
Piazza Sarzano
The narrow bulge of Piazza Sarzano was originally home to Genoa's many ropemaking workshops and, owing to its enormous length, still the scene for medieval-style jousting tournaments. The piazza is marked by the mosaic spire of the rebuilt church of Sant'Agostino, alongside which is the unique triangular cloister of the thirteenth-century monastery that now houses the Museo di Sant'Agostino (Tues– Fri 9am–7pm, Sat & Sun 10am–7pm; €4; 
www.museosantagostino.it ), displaying Roman and Romanesque masonry fragments. The highlight is a fragment of the tomb of Margherita of Brabant, sculpted in 1312 by Giovanni Pisano.
North from Piazza Sarzano streets connect to the Porta Soprana, a twin-towered stone gateway featuring impressive Gothic arches that now stands as the focus for a rather upmarket collection of bars and terrace cafés.