La Spezia

Lively port city and natural base for Cinque Terre exploration

La Spezia is Liguria’s second city, after Genoa, the capital, and it’s virtually right on the border of Tuscany. You’ll find an intriguing mix of wonderful bay views, heavy industry and illustrious naval history.

Napolean described it as the most beautiful gulf in the world. Whilst the region was under the control of the French, it became an important naval base. You can learn about and admire the region’s glorious maritime history at the city’s naval museum.

La Spezia is often seen as a base for exploring more famous areas along the coast between Genoa and Pisa, like the 5 beautiful coastal towns of Cinque Terre. But you’ll want to spend some time here for its own sake.

Among the highlights on offer are Via del Prione, the main street full of cute bars and restaurants to try, with plenty of seating outside. You could grab some gelato and mingle with the locals.

Continue the leisurely people-spotting at the lively Piazza Giuseppe Verdi square, or take in the sea views on the Morin promenade. La Spezia was a favoured spot on the Grand Tour for a reason, and it was a haunt of literary greats like Lord Byron and Percy Shelley. There’s even the medieval castle of San Giorgio to explore.

Whatever you do in La Spezia, make sure you visit the remarkable Cathedral of Christ the King. Built in the 1950s, this imposing, circular church offers something a bit different to the gilded and glittering Italian norm.