La Spezia is embedded in one of the most beautiful bays of Liguria, the Golfo dei Poeti, where tiny coves and sheer cliffs create settings of enchantment and romance.
The town is at its best in its first-class cultural itineraries - its museums telling the tale of the glorious past of both port and arsenal. La Spezia is an open air volume concerning the relationship between man and sea, an ongoing story of maritime activities, sailing, yachting and mussel farming.
La Spezia is the capital of Liguria’s easternmost province, a border land where roads branch off towards Lunigiana and coastal Tuscany. The town stands at the heart of the Golfo dei Poeti, loved by Byron and Shelley, between the Cinque Terre and the mouth of the Magra.
Yesterday, a port and military arsenal, today, a renewed tourist destination that preserves the memory of its traditional activities (commerce, seafaring, fishing and mussel growing). La Spezia invites visitors to explore its connoisseur treasures – art, nature, enogastronomy and handicrafts -, a chest of wonders encompassing coast and entroterra.
An easy reach both by road and railway, it relies on a central tourist information office foor the promotion of local heritages. First, an excellent museum network, boasting the Museo Navale della Marina Militare, the Museo Lia (deriving from the most generous private donation), the Museo Archeologico “Formentini (known for its stele-statues from Lunigiana) and the interesting Museo dei Trasporti, a touching collection of means of transport that – through time – have bravely challenged the roads and the passes of the Appennino. The historical centre is a pleasant mix of styles and architectures: stroll the length of downtown Via del Prione, sided by noble palazzi and chic shops to the charm of Lungomare Morin, by the Arsenal, the castle of San Giorgio towering stately from the hills.
The mainland extends its stretch from Portovenere to the three splendid isles facing the coast - Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto -, a joy for both eye and soul (do not miss the ferry excursion from the city’s centre).
A dense calendar of activities will enrich your stay in the area: have your pick among the palio marinaro of La Spezia, the vast brocante of Sarzana (the recent seat of the Festival della Mente, too) and a host of sports events.
But vivacity is also a feature of the local cuisine du terroir, a perfect match of earth and sea produce: enjoy the taste of fresh fish (anchovies, mussels, octopus, only to cite a few), vegetable savoury pies, testaroli (diamond-shaped pasta crêpes), mesciùa (a popular legumes and cereals soup), chick-pea farinata, wine and first-quality cheese.