What to see in La Spezia in 2 days: the Gulf of Poets and its secrets
Two days in La Spezia beyond the Cinque Terre: the Liberty-style seafront, Museo Lia, forgotten hilltop villages, the Arsenal and gulf views that inspired Byron and Shelley.
Foto: Zucchero82 (CC BY-SA 4.0) — Wikimedia Commons
La Spezia in 2 days: much more than a gateway to the Cinque Terre
La Spezia is used by most travellers as a base for the Cinque Terre, never explored itself. That is a mistake. This port city has an elegant centre, surprising museums and a gulf of such beauty it made Romantic poets fall in love. Two days here are worth more than you imagine.
Day 1: City centre and seafront
Morning
Start at the Museo Civico Amedeo Lia, housed in the former convent of the Friars Minor. This private collection donated to the city includes medieval miniatures, bronze statuettes, ceramics and paintings by Titian, Tintoretto, Bellini and Pontormo. A hidden little Uffizi.
Continue along Via del Prione, the main pedestrian street, to Piazza Beverini with the Cathedral of Cristo Re, modern but imposing. Detour into the old town lanes around Via della Canonica: here working-class La Spezia survives, with traditional shops and fryers.
Afternoon
Walk the Lungomare Morin, one of Liguria's finest: 2 km of tree-lined promenade facing the gulf, with public gardens and Liberty architecture. The view sweeps from Portovenere to Lerici.
Hidden gem: from the seafront's end, climb to Castello San Giorgio. The medieval fortress offers 360-degree views over the city, gulf and hills. The archaeological museum inside holds mysterious Lunigiana stelae, ancient anthropomorphic sculptures.
Evening
Dine in the covered market quarter (Piazza Cavour): trattorias serve muscoli ripieni (stuffed mussels Spezia-style), mesciua (legume soup) and Monterosso anchovies. Colli di Luni wine accompanies everything.
Day 2: The gulf and hidden villages
Morning
Take the boat from the pier to Portovenere (30 minutes). The colourful village, the Church of San Pietro on its cliff and Byron's Grotto deserve the morning. But avoid the crowded centre: climb to the Doria Castle for panoramas over Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto islands.
Alternatively, reach the Montemarcello-Magra Natural Park to the east: panoramic trails through Mediterranean scrub and sea.
Afternoon
Back in the city, explore the hilltop villages nobody visits. Take the bus to Campiglia or Biassa, hamlets perched above the Cinque Terre with stone alleys, terraced gardens and absolute silence. From Campiglia, a trail descends to Persico Beach, reachable only on foot.
Hidden gem: the Canaletto quarter, a former fishing village absorbed into the city, preserves fishermen's houses, a small harbour and an atmosphere recalling how La Spezia was before mass tourism.
Evening
For your last evening, dine in Lerici (10 minutes by bus or boat), the village on the gulf's opposite shore. The castle overlooking the sea, the caruggi lanes and the evening stroll are a perfect finale.
Recommended walking routes
- Full seafront: from Porto Mirabello to Via Chiodo, 2.5 km flat
- Historic centre + Castle: Via del Prione → Via della Canonica → climb to Castello San Giorgio → return via staircases (1.5 km, 1.5 hours)
- Campiglia-Persico trail: 2 km downhill, coastal panoramas, return same way
Practical tips
- The Cinque Terre Card covers trains and trails, but La Spezia deserves dedicated time
- The covered market in Piazza Cavour (morning) is a sensory experience
- Boats to Portovenere and Lerici leave from Molo Italia: frequent in summer, reduced in winter
Further reading
For your stay, see where to stay in La Spezia, where to eat in La Spezia and how to get to La Spezia.
Practical info
How long do you need to visit La Spezia?
Two full days are enough for the centre and the gulf; if you only have a few hours, focus on the seafront and the historic centre and leave the rest for another visit.
What to see in La Spezia in 2 days?
The first day is dedicated to the city centre and the seafront, the second to the gulf and hidden villages.
When's the best time to go to La Spezia?
We recommend April, May, June, September and October, the period with the smallest crowds.
How touristy is La Spezia?
La Spezia is not very crowded compared to the more visited destinations.
What's the location of La Spezia?
La Spezia is found in the area of Liguria, Italy.
How to get there
- 🚆 Nearest station: La Spezia Centrale ~1 km as the crow flies
- ✈️ Nearest airport: Aeroporto internazionale Galileo Galilei PSA ~65 km as the crow flies
Nearest points as the crow flies (source OpenStreetMap): actual times depend on the roads, often mountain ones.
