As is tradition, Genoa celebrates Christopher Columbus Day on October 12 with a series of initiatives culminating in the traditional Columbus Ceremony.

Genoa and Columbus Day begins in the morning with three children's workshops; at 9:30 a.m. with the 50th “Columbus” International Communications Conference - “Submarine Cables and New Global Connections: the Strategic Role of the Mediterranean;” and at 11 a.m. with the 33rd edition of the Columbus Historical Parade curated by the National Committee for Columbus.

Musical, dance, flag-waving and historical reenactment performances House of Columbus are planned during the route. At 3 p.m. is scheduled the departure of the Historic Procession of the Ancient Maritime Republics whose route will pass through main places such as Porta Soprana - where at 3:30 p.m. wreaths will be laid in front of Christopher Columbus' house in collaboration with the U.S. Consular Agency in Genoa.

A Columbian Ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. to commemorate the figure of the Great Navigator and the discovery of America. Opening the event will be a greeting from the mayor of Genoa to Ligurians around the world. As usual, besides the City of Genoa Medal, the following Colombian Awards will be conferred.

The Colombian Gold Medal awarded to “those of any nationality, who have distinguished themselves by daring, fervor of study and experience, audacity of achievement in trials of high human significance or in effective contributions to scientific achievements and their dissemination.”

The “Cristoforo Colombo” International Communications Prize intended for “those who have contributed most with a discovery, research, work or initiative, both from the technical-scientific point of view and from the social and human point of view, to the progress of communications, understood as a means of economic and civil development and of rapprochement and collaboration among peoples.”

The International Sports Award given “to the athlete, sportsman or body, association or person who in any case has best contributed during the year to enhancing the value of sport, considered not only in its physical and competitive aspects, but also in its spiritual and educational ones.”

This will be followed by the offering ceremony of oil from the City of Loano for the votive lamp that burns by the ashes of Christopher Columbus in the Santo Domingo Lighthouse.

Then there will be the appointment of the Ambassadors of Genoa in the World and will conclude with the presentation of the crews of the Ancient Maritime Republics who will compete in the rowing challenge in the Pra' Calm Canal on Sunday, October 13. This year, for the first time, an all-female regatta will also take place. Finally, from Oct. 11 to 13, the State Archives is offering free hourly guided tours of the documentary exhibition “The Way of Genoa in the Middle Ages,” in which Christopher Columbus' will is also on display.