Genoa's hillside topography has always required creative solutions for vertical transport. The Ascensore Castello d'Albertis, installed in 1909, is one of the strangest: a combination of horizontal and vertical movement in a single cabin, linking the street level to the Castello d'Albertis above. The ride is brief but the geometry is odd and memorable.
The Castello d'Albertis at the top is a castellated 15th-century fortress converted in the 19th century by explorer Captain Enrico D'Albertis as his private museum of the world's cultures. It now houses the Museum of World Cultures, with objects collected by D'Albertis from his voyages. The ascensore itself is worth the ride regardless of whether you visit the museum.