Eco Hotel a La Spezia

La Spezia is a major port city on the eastern Ligurian coast, perfectly positioned as the gateway to both Cinque Terre and the legendary Gulf of Poets. While many travellers pass through on their way to the five colourful villages, those who stay discover a vibrant, authentic Italian city with its own rich character — far less touristy and significantly better value than the Cinque Terre villages themselves.

The city sits at the head of a spectacular natural harbour, the Golfo della Spezia, renamed the Golfo dei Poeti (Gulf of Poets) in honour of the English Romantic poets Byron and Shelley who lived and wrote here in the early 1800s. The waterfront Passeggiata Costantino Morin stretches along the harbour, offering views across to Portovenere and the island of Palmaria. Above the city, the medieval Castello di San Giorgio watches over terracotta rooftops and the deep blue gulf below.

La Spezia's naval heritage runs deep. The Arsenale Militare Marittimo, founded in 1869, remains one of Italy's most important naval bases, while the Museo Tecnico Navale houses one of the country's finest maritime collections. The pedestrianised Via del Prione buzzes with local shops, cafés, and restaurants serving the Ligurian seafood that La Spezia is famous for — muscoli ripieni (stuffed mussels), farinata, and fresh anchovies from the gulf.

In Breve

Come Sfruttare al Meglio La Spezia

La Spezia is superbly connected. The central train station is a major stop on the Genoa–Rome line, with direct trains from Genoa (1.5 hours), Pisa (1 hour), and Florence (2.5 hours). The nearest airports are Pisa Galileo Galilei (85km southeast) and Genoa Cristoforo Colombo (100km northwest), both linked by direct rail services. Once in La Spezia, frequent local trains reach all five Cinque Terre villages in 5–25 minutes, and seasonal ferries depart from the waterfront terminal to Portovenere, Lerici, and the Cinque Terre coast. The city centre is compact and walkable — Via del Prione, Piazza Europa, and the harbour promenade are all within easy reach of the station. For exploring the wider gulf, local buses connect to Portovenere (25 minutes) and Lerici (20 minutes), or you can rent a car for the spectacular coastal roads. A Cinque Terre Card gives unlimited train travel plus trail access — buy it at the station.