I believe this statement may be incorrect because there were Renaissance art forms created in Genoa, Italy. Not all artists that lived and worked in Genoa during this period were Italian by birth. But, artists such as Van Dyck, Joos van Cleve, and Rubens did live and work in Genoa for a time. Sure, the more famous artists like da Vinci, Donatello, or Michelangelo did not spend much, if any time, in Genoa.
But, Genoa is also known for several museums built during the Italian Renaissance. Perino del Vaga, worked for almost ten years in Genoa as a court artist to Admiral-Prince Andrea Doria. And, del Vaga decorated Doria’s new palace and villa.