La Spezia is one of the four provinces within the Liguria region of northwest Italy, the capital city shares the same name and it is home to the world famous Cinque Terre National Park. Here you will find four of Italy’s listed most beautiful villages: Brugnato, Montemarcello, Tellaro and Varese Ligure. The province has an excellent rail network; there are two major motorways in the province, the A12, which connects it to Genoa and the A15, which connects it to Parma.
The city of La Spezia is one of the main commercial and military harbours in northern Italy. The climate here is Mediterranean with hot summers and warm winters; however, spring and autumn can be very wet. Summer temperatures of 30 degrees or more are common and it can feel even hotter due to the high humidity.
The city has lots to do and see, some of the main sights include the Cristo Re dei Secoli Cathedral; there are eight museums, of which National Transportation and Technical Naval museums are just a couple. There is the castle of San Giorgio, which has been carefully restored and offers breathtaking views and you really should visit even if you are not that interested in the castle itself. There are public gardens and a lovely mosaic by Prampolini inside the post office, called Futurist. A trip to the Gulf here is a definite must as there are some fantastic views and places to explore. You can also take a trip by train or boat from here to the famous and picturesque Cinque Terre, where you can explore five of Italy’s most beautiful villages.
Sarzana is the next largest town and is 15 km east of La Spezia; some of the main sights here include the white marble Gothic cathedral, a castle, a former citadel and the Church of San Francesco, which dates back to 1238. There is also a market held here every Wednesday which is well worth a visit and the town also has Luna Park, which is great for the kids.
The area is also home to the Portovenere and the Islands, which include Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto. It has become a very popular destination among holidaymakers due to the simple fact that the province as a whole has not undergone a massive amount of commercialisation, so the charm and beauty of the towns and villages have not been spoilt by large brands and over bearing resorts.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in La Spezia? Then below is a selection of Apartments in La Spezia and villas in La Spezia that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
