[1] The neighbourhood is located in the old town of Genoa, between Prè and Molo, in the semi-plain area immediately behind the harbour delimited by piazza Banchi at south-east and via Lomellini at north-west.

Alongside the feudal families, since the 13th century grew the importance of Arts and Crafts Associations, that give the names to some streets in the old town: today again many streets where craftsmen and tradesmen had their workshops are named after them, as a reference via degli Orefici (goldsmiths), piazza di Pellicceria (furriers), via dei Macelli di Soziglia (butchers) and vico dei Droghieri (grocers).

Along the "Strada Nuova" (now Via Garibaldi), opened close to the city walls, at the foot of the hill Castelletto where six of the most important Genoese families of that era (Doria, Grimaldi, Lomellini, Lercari, Pallavicini and Spinola) built their palaces.

[4][5] The neighbourhood had long the economical centre of the city, and its role was strengthened in the 19th century, when the 16th-century "Loggia of the Merchants" became the seat of the stock exchange.

However at the beginning of the 20th century the business centre of Genoa moved to De Ferrari Square and a period of decline began for the whole old town.

[4] Only in 1992, being unused this part of the port, in the meantime enlarged towards the west, this area was redeveloped by Renzo Piano and opened to public access during Genoa Expo '92 exhibition.

[4][3] The main tourist attraction in this section of the old harbour is the aquarium, in front of which there is the Biosphere, known commonly as la bolla (the bubble), a glass and steel structure hosting inside plants and animals of the rainforest, designed by Renzo Piano and built in 2001.

[3][4] Nearby the aquarium there is the Neptune, replica of a 17th-century galleon, built in 1986 for the Roman Polanski's film Pirates and now moored in the old harbour of Genoa as a tourist attraction.

Many families who gave over the centuries an important contribution to the history of the Republic of Genoa had in Maddalena their palaces and business, among them Spinola, Calvi, De Franchi, Di Negro, Finamore, Grimaldi, Grillo, Senarega, Pallavicini, Pinelli and Usodimare.