La Spezia, Port city in Liguria, Italy.
La Spezia stretches along a natural harbor at the head of the Gulf of La Spezia, surrounded by mountains on one side and the Ligurian coastline on the other. The city sits between steep slopes and the sea, with wide boulevards running parallel to the water and leading toward the port.
The city transformed from a small fishing village into a major naval base after 1861, when the Italian government established the Royal Naval Arsenal. This shift brought shipyards, barracks, and industrial facilities that reshaped the face of the coastline.
The Palio del Golfo takes place every first Sunday in August, when thirteen villages from the gulf race against each other in traditional boats. Rowers wear historical costumes, and the entire coastline gathers along the water to watch the race and cheer for their teams.
La Spezia Centrale railway station connects travelers to Florence, Rome, and the Cinque Terre villages through regular train services throughout the day. Trains toward Cinque Terre run frequently, making a day trip along the coast straightforward.
The Technical Naval Museum displays a collection of ship figureheads and model vessels that document the evolution of Italian shipbuilding. Among the exhibits are navigation instruments and weapons that illustrate the maritime tradition of the country.
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La Spezia Cathedral
729 m
Forte del Varignano
4.3 km
Castello San Giorgio
335 m
Technical Naval Museum at La Spezia
227 m
Amedeo Lia Civic Museum
460 m
Palazzo delle Poste
454 m
Santa Maria Assunta
247 m
Monte Parodi
3.5 km
Nostra Signora della Neve
692 m
Equestrian monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi
149 m
San Venerio
3.4 km
Palazzo De Nobili
172 m
Madonna dell'Olmo Sanctuary
2 km
Nostra Signora delle Grazie
4.4 km
Nostra Signora della Salute
1.1 km
Santo Stefano
3.4 km
Museo civico Ubaldo Formentini
335 m
Castagnola Palace
178 m
San Michele Arcangelo Church
1.4 km
Palazzo Maggiani
593 m
Doria Palace
118 m
Grattacielo Bibbiani
609 m
Museo Etnografico Podenzana e Museo Diocesano
285 m
Villa Marmori
504 m
Centro arte moderna e contemporanea
108 mForte Bastia
5.5 km
Teatro Monteverdi
1.3 km
Palazzina delle arti e museo del sigillo
483 mDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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