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 Set
in the heart of the Golfo dei Poeti,
La Spezia is a town of outstanding maritime,
mercantile and cultural repute, as well as the ideal starting point for
itineraries between sea, countryside, art and architecture. Recent donations by
important collectors have boosted the status (and contents) of local museums,
which display their multitude of treasures to the whole community.
La Spezia also boasts an interesting (and dense)
calendar of events that further enriches the visitor’s stay – a rewarding
tourist experience only a stone’s throw from the uncontaminated nature of
Portovenere, the gulf’s archipelagos, the Apuan
Alps and Lunigiana.
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. |