The Mystery of Genoa — a self-guided walking mystery through the old town

The Mystery of Genoa — a self-guided walking mystery

Genoa · 1492 · self-guided
Start the hunt — €25 Meet the guardians
~2.5 hDURATION
2–6PLAYERS
1.5 KMOLD TOWN TRAIL
DIGITAL KITWHEEL · DOSSIER · CARDS
The story

The Code of Genoa

Genoa, 1492. While Columbus prepares for his great voyage, an ancient secret of the Republic is about to vanish: the Codice di Genova — keeper of the mystery that made this city one of the great powers of the Mediterranean.

The Code was divided and entrusted to six guardians, who scattered their riddles and symbols across the city.

The Navigator, the Keeper, the Doge, the Pilgrim, the Merchant and the Sailor each sealed away a piece. Follow their traces, break their seals, and rebuild the Code — only to discover that the true source of Genoa's wealth was never hidden in its palaces, its banks or its vaults.

It was in plain sight. All along.

The blueprint of the Codice di Genova
Six guardians

Who left the seals

Each guardian waits at a real place in Genoa's old town, with riddles carved into what is actually standing in front of you.

Il Navigante
STOP I
The Navigator
Columbus's House
Il Custode
STOP II
The Keeper
Porta Soprana
Il Doge
STOP III
The Doge
Piazza De Ferrari
Il Pellegrino
STOP IV
The Pilgrim
San Lorenzo
Il Commerciante
STOP V
The Merchant
Piazza Banchi
Il Marinaio
STOP VI
The Sailor
The Galleon
The trail

1.5 km through the Superba

Six stops, one continuous walk through the historic centre — from Columbus's house to the galleon in the old port. No bookings, no queues, no entry tickets required: everything is solved from the street.

Your field kit

What you get

Everything opens on your phone the moment you enter your code — no printing, no app to install.

Map

The map

Your route between the six guardians.

Decoder wheel

The decoder wheel

Turns the guardians' cipher into words.

Guardian cards

The guardian cards

One for each keeper of the Code.

The dossier

The dossier

Every riddle, seal and clue you need.

How it works

Three steps

I

Book online

Pay €25 once for the whole group. Your access code arrives by email within seconds.

II

Start whenever you like

Go to Casa di Cristoforo Colombo on any day, at any hour, and open your dossier. The timer starts only when you do.

III

Walk, observe, solve

The city is the game board. Everything you need is carved, painted or standing right in front of you.

Assemble your team

Take the case

◆
€25One flat price — for the whole group
Pay €25 & get your game link →

Secure checkout via Stripe · your private game link arrives after payment
Play any day · self-guided · English & Italian

Before you go

Good to know

When can we play?

Any day, any time you like. There is no reservation and no guide — you open the dossier when you are ready and the timer starts then.

Where does it start?

At Casa di Cristoforo Colombo, beside Porta Soprana. The whole trail is about 1.5 km through the historic centre and ends at the old port.

Do we need to go inside any museum?

No. Every riddle is solved from the street — no entry tickets, no queues, nothing to buy along the way.

How many people can play with one code?

One code covers your whole group and works on several phones at once, so you can split up and compare notes.

Is it suitable for children?

Yes — it works well from about 12 upwards, and younger children enjoy it as part of a family team. There is nothing frightening in it.

Which language is the game in?

Both Italian and English. You can switch language at any moment, even mid-game, without losing your progress.

What if we get stuck?

Every seal has graded hints inside the dossier, so you are never blocked. A full solution is only ever one tap away.