Geography
Genoa’s strength is not in its amount of landmass, but in its positioning. Genoa is a republic clustered on a set of islands in the Ligurian Sea. It does have a small sliver of land along the coast of the main Italian peninsula that borders Savoy, Milan, and Florence. With access to so much water, Genoa boasts the most harbors and one of the largest fleets.
Genoa maintains control over the island of Corsica. Corsica is a beautiful woodland that supplies much of the timber used in the Genovese shipbuilding trade. The forests of Corsica are also rumored to house some isolated cults that still worship the old Roman gods.
Economy
If Venice is the trading hub with the East for the Italian kingdoms and city-states, then Genoa is the trading hub with the West. Genoa and Spain have developed close ties trading the commodities of wine, wool, olives, and figs. Some suspect that Genoa’s relationship with Spain makes Genoa susceptible to Spanish influence within its government, but Genovese leaders refute these claims.
Genoa has made a fortune in trade. Where many kingdoms have squandered and lavished their gold upon their royals, Genoa, a republic, invested their money into a new industry- banking.
Arts and Culture
The strength of Genovese has brought goods to the archipelago from the Dutch and Flemish. These two trading partners have exchanged unique painting pigments with the Genovese. Genovese painters have developed their own schools of painting. While many individuals value handicrafts from Venice, a painting from a Genovesan artist is truly prized.
Genoa is also proud to have a large opera house where local and visiting artists perform and share their talents. Genoa is a place where the captains of commerce can indulge in the arts and feel like kings and lords.
Government
Genoa is a republic that is ruled by an elected doge. A Genovese doge serves a two year term of office; this restriction was put in place to prevent a monarchy from establishing itself and disrupting the will of the voting people within the republic. The short term limit has also been put in place to prevent Spain from gaining too much influence over Genoa’s leadership.
Despite Genoa’s efforts to remain separate from Spain, Genoa is often pressured by Sicily and Naples to accept Spain’s king and to become a principality of the kingdom. Genoa’s strong economy and government structure has helped them retain their independence for now.