La Spezia is a major port and one of the main centers of Liguria. For tourists, it is often a base for exploring the Cinque Terre National Park. It has several interesting museums and nice buildings, mainly from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
The city is situated in a strategic place and there is a naval base here. Already in the Middle Ages, there were fortifications here, including the Castle of St. George. Its walls now house the Archaeological Museum. The main part of the city, however, has later, mainly 19th and 20th century buildings. It includes Art Nouveau tenement houses, pretty, eclectic villas and city palaces. The botanical garden is the pride of the city.
Among the attractions of La Spezia are the local museums. The most important of them is the Museum of Technology and the Navy, located in the former shipyards belonging to the army. There is also the National Transport Museum showing its development from ancient times to the present day.
La Spezia is very attractively situated on the Bay of Poets, a short distance from the Cinque Terre. The biggest attraction on the Ligurian coast can be reached by train or by boat. Alternatively, you can take a cruise around the bay with the Navigazione Golfo dei Poeti. Along the sea stretches the spotted Promenade of Conastantino Morin with a nice view of the bay.
