La Spezia

Content:

How to get there
What to see
Where to stay

Not far from Riomaggiore we can find La Spezia, today considered the main maritime military base in Italy. This city has one of the most important commercial ports of the Ligurian region and is also certainly a very interesting place from a tourism point of view; furthermore trains depart from La Spezia in all directions. There are many places of interest worthy of note and the cost of accommodation is much cheaper than in the villages of the Cinque Terre.

Article was last updated in December, 2024.

The gardens on the promenade, La Spezia, Italy — The gardens on the promenade

View of the port from the road to Riomaggiore, La Spezia, Italy — View of the port from the road to Riomaggiore

View of the port from the road to Riomaggiore at night, La Spezia, Italy — View of the port from the road to Riomaggiore at night

How to reach La Spezia and get around

By train

Make your way to La Spezia Centrale train station. This city is a point of reference when speaking of the Cinque Terre, because often it is precisely here that you change your means of transport to go to the Cinque Terre. La Spezia also has good rail connections. More information on the page “By train”.

By boat

Boats ply very frequently between the Cinque Terre, Porto Venere and La Spezia. More information on the page “By boat”.

By car

All parking areas are marked on the map. The closest to the station is paid parking (€1.50/h during the day, €1.00/h at night), others are free of charge. More information on the page “By car”.

What to see in La Spezia

Giuseppe Garibaldi Monument, La Spezia, Italy — Giuseppe Garibaldi Monument

The main points of interest for tourists are the 1center of La Spezia, 2the promenade, 3the castle of San Giorgio and the religious buildings. In the center, in addition to admiring the medieval architecture, you can sample the local cuisine and do some shopping. If you walk along the promenade along the seafront, you will see the military ships moored in the harbor, or alternatively you can go to the mini botanical garden.

Particular attention should be devoted to the castle of San Giorgio, where the walls currently host an historical museum. There are a large number of cathedrals in La Spezia. One of them is the 4Cathedral of Christ the King, the most particular and modern edifice in the city. Furthermore, you can also admire the oldest church of La Spezia, the 5Abbey of Santa Maria Assunta, or the 6Church of Our Lady of Health (Nostra Signora della Salute), the 7Church of Our Lady of the Snow (Nostra Signora della Neve), etc.

Where to stay in La Spezia?

In La Spezia there is an excellent transport network and relatively cheap accommodation. The prices of hotels in La Spezia are lower than in the Cinque Terre villages, so some tourists may prefer to find accommodation in this city. See the complete list of hotels in La Spezia or choose one from the hotels listed below. These hotels are located close to the station!