La Spezia Map and Travel Guide
La Spezia is a port city, considered by tourists to be simply a "gateway to the Cinque Terre" but La Spezia has some very interesting attractions, marked on the map.
La Spezia Travel Tips
Two places of note are on high ground in La Spezia, the Archaeological Museum in the Castello di San Giorgio, which has a commanding view over the Gulf of Poets and the port of La Spezia, and the train station. The rest of the historic center slopes gently to the sea.
It looks easy to get from the center to the musem, but it requires quite a bit of uphill stair walking.
La Spezia is easy to walk, and the pedestrian only zone starts just down the hill from the train station.
Boats from the port of La Spezia to to Portovenere and the Cinque Terre from Saturday 27th March 2010 until the 1st of November.
March 19 is the festival of San Giuseppe, patron saint of the city of La Spezia.
La Spezia Attractions
The recommended things to see in La Spezia are marked on our map.
Civic Museum Amedeo Lia is really not to be missed. The collection of artifacts by Puglian Amedeo Lia is truly extrordinary.
The climb up the hill to the Archaeological Museum inside Castello di San Giorgio is worth it for the views alone.
La Spezia Market is open but covered. If you need a bite to eat on the train to the Cinque Terre, you can probably find something here. You'll also find all sorts of things Italians can still dredge out of the sea in the southeast corner. The market is surrounded by stores and cafes; we recommend La Bonta di Giulia for fantastic breads and the foccaccia that Liguria is known for. It's on the east side of the market at Piazza Cavour 44.
Museo civico etnografico Giovanni Podenzana (La Spezia Ethnographic Museum) is where you go to see what the folks did in the old days.
Santa Maria Assunta Church, 13th century, contains lots of important 14th century paintings like the "Moltiplicazione dei pani e dei pesci" by Battista Casone. One of the treasures is a 14th century crucifix made of wood.
La Spezia - Where to Stay
Hotel Firenze & Continentale is near the train station and highly rated by folks who've stayed there. The location is near the start of the pedestrian zone of La Spezia, so it's not stuck far away from the attractions.
Locanda del Golfo e delle 5 Terre is a highly rated but small guesthouse a little farther from the station than the Firenze, but close to the attractions of La Spezia. The port is a ten minute walk.
Hotel Genova is a reasonably priced three star hotel right in the heart of La Spezia and convenient to the port.
La Spezia doesn't get the tourist attention it should. There are some fine museums here, and the city is a very pleasant place to walk around in.
Travel Planning
Cinque Terre Weather & Climate
