History and main attractions of the Italian city of La Spezia. Sights of La Spezia Spezia Italy for an independent visit
Where the cityscape gives off a bit of medieval gloom and dampness, and here is La Spezia. A small town on the coast of the Ligurian Sea with a telling name.
How to get to La Spezia
The most popular and, in my opinion, convenient transport in Italy is railways. We traveled from Florence by train with a transfer. It will be a little cheaper by bus.
History of La Spezia
The city is often called La Spezia in the French manner, which is not surprising, since Napoleon Bonaparte, who captured Liguria in 1797, gave life to this place as a city. Before this, this place was essentially a village. The emperor was struck by the beauty of these places and the bay, which he called one of the most beautiful in the world. From a military point of view, the bay was also an ideal location. The rapid development of the city began already in the 19th century, when shipyards and factories were built.
Attractions La Spezia
The city is indeed bright, colorful like a set of spices: from saffron to Pravana herbs, literally buried in the greenery of palm trees and orange trees. La Spezia is very different from the Tuscan cities.
Maybe because, although the city is located near the border with Tuscany, it belongs to another region - Liguria and is traditionally considered the eastern tip of the Riviera. The city makes no secret of its affiliation with the famous resort of millionaires. Rich villas and houses, parks, a beautiful embankment and yachts - all this clearly indicates the status of an aristocratic city. And at the same time, all this does not create a feeling of excess and pathos. The villas are luxurious, but in moderation, the yachts are beautiful, but not bulky, the people are rich, but not arrogant. There are no five-meter fences, barbed wire or gloomy security here. In general, in its appearance the city reminded me of Barcelona, but in a smaller form. There just aren't enough of Gaudi's creations. The city certainly looks different in summer. Crowds of vacationers will probably occupy the embankment and adjacent parks. But in November the city is empty, peace, silence and serenity reign. Perhaps it is at this point that we should admit... In general, we had no plans to study La Spezia at all and were heading to the Cinque Terre. This is a nature reserve that includes 4 villages.
Based on reviews from experienced tourists and photographs, I concluded that this is indeed a very interesting and picturesque place. You can get to the reserve by train. At the La Spezia station there are several small tourist offices where they will be happy to tell you and show you how to get to the Cinque Terre. You can use online excursion booking services and book everything in advance by agreeing with a Russian-speaking guide.
We, however, did not get there. The reason is completely banal - we went for a walk, relaxed on the embankment and there was no point in going to the reserve, given the short autumn days.
Therefore, we will leave a visit to Cinque Terre for our next trip to Italy, which, I hope, will definitely take place. For La Spezia itself, there is probably no point in hiring a guide. This city is interesting, rather, simply as a pleasant resort for walking.
Among the attractions of the city of La Spezia, all guidebooks, first of all, note the Castle of San Giorgio, which was rebuilt several times before the beginning of the 17th century.
Ship family
However, I liked La Spezia not because of the ancient monument, I was attracted by its naturalness, the lack of places that attract tourists all year round, which is the “sin” of Florence and Pisa, for example. It seems that here you can see what real Italy is and how people live in this country.
Orange grove on the main street of the city
The city's landscape, however, does not look completely glamorous, as it might seem at first glance. Villas and well-kept houses here contrast with the fishing boats and their owners, which, however, only add color to the city.
Once he threw a net into the sea, - The net came with nothing but mud.
What to try in La Spezia
A city with such a telling name should definitely have something unusual and original in its arsenal, especially in its cuisine. It’s worth remembering that the city was founded by a Frenchman, and the cuisine of this nation is no less important than for the Italians.
I call the cuisine here by region - Ligurian. And she really absorbed both traditional Italian cooking principles and French motifs. But the most important thing about it is the products used. It is generally traditional for Italian traditional cuisine that in each region one or another dish depends on the products available in that region and their seasonality. That is, we cook from what grows, floats, flies or runs around my house. So it is with Ligurian cuisine, which has very little fat, it can even be called vegetarian. To prepare dishes, they use a lot of legumes, dried and salted cod, chestnuts, mushrooms, and truffles. One of the most traditional Ligurian dishes is farinata (Farinata di ceci).
This is a flatbread cooked in a wood-fired oven. The dough is based on pea flour. Despite the simplicity of the ingredients, this is a very tasty dish. Soup (Panissa) is also made from pea flour. It is also worth trying Ligurian minestrone (minestrone ligure) - a soup made from various types of vegetables, mushrooms, beans and Parmesan cheese with the addition of olive oil.
Steep cliffs, pine forests, romantic bays and beautifulbeaches - everything here breathes beauty and preaches splendor.
Lerici, Porto Venere, Palmaria island, Tino and Tinetto islets and town La Spezia, "queen" of the beautiful bay...
La Spezia (Italian La Spezia is the largest town in the beautiful Gulf of Poets, often overlooked by travelers, perhaps because it is surrounded by the most famous resorts of the Ligurian coast. However, the town of La Spezia, having today become a “transit point” for foreigners heading to the Cinque Terre, “suffers” undeservedly, because once upon a time it was adored by writers and poets, the English lyricist Percy Shelley especially loved to be here, calling La Spezia “Blue city of dreams and love...
The city is located in the very east, just a few kilometers from the border with, on the shore of the sea bay, which is called the “Gulf of Spezia” (Golfo della Spezia), another name is “Gulf of Poets” (Golfo dei Poeti). The second name for the bay was assigned due to the visits of poets, writers, artists, and actors to these places, attracted by the beauty of the “water amphitheater.” Among La Spezia's frequent guests were David Herbert Lawrence, George Sand, Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley and many other creative personalities of Italy and Europe. The bay is surrounded by a chain of hills and mountains, the highest of which, Mount Verrugoli, 750 meters high, is located on the western edge of La Spezia.
Bay of Spezia. Photo by Thinkstock
How to get to La Spezia?
By plane
La Spezia. Photo flickr.com
By car
In addition, the state highways SS-1 (Aurelia), SS-62 (Sarzana -) and SS-63 (Massa - Verona) pass through La Spezia.
By train
La Spezia. Photo flickr.com
By sea
In the spring and summer, passenger sea transport runs connecting La Spezia with the ports of Genoa, Portofino, Lerici, Portovenere, the island of Palmaria, and the national park.
Where to stay in La Spezia?
After the fall of the Roman Empire, from the 5th century La Spezia was attacked by the Germanic tribes of the Heruli and Goths, and with the end of the Byzantine-Gothic wars in the mid-6th century, the territory of modern La Spezia came under Byzantine rule, becoming part of the Italian Exarchate - the Byzantine province on the Apennine Peninsula.
In 642, the region of La Spezia was conquered by the Longobards; after the fall of the Longobard kingdom in 773, the territory came under the rule of the Frankish king Charles I the Great. In 860, La Spezia was sacked by the Vikings, and in the same century it had to endure devastating raids by the Saracens, which led to the complete decline of the region.
Gradually, the inhabitants of neighboring cities began to move here, and in the 10th-11th centuries a fortress city was formed on a hill, which by the middle of the 12th century came under the rule of Genoa. By this time, La Spezia had become an important trading center. In the XIII-XIV centuries, the city reached its peak, thanks to which in 1343, at the behest of the first Genoese Doge Simone Boccanegra, the Podestat of La Spezia was formed, which, however, by the end of the XIV century, after the continuous struggle between Genoa and Venice, ceased to exist, and La Spezia comes under the rule of the Milanese Visconti dynasty.
In the 15th century, the city continued to develop as a major trading center. In 1654, in order to give a new impetus to the trade direction, the Genoese Republic allowed Jews to settle in La Spezia, new markets and exchange fairs appeared in the city. In 1797, with the fall of the Genoese Republic, La Spezia became part of the Ligurian Republic, which in 1805 became a French protectorate. With the end of Napoleon's power, La Spezia passes to the Sardinian kingdom.
By the time of the unification of Italy in 1861, La Spezia had about 6 thousand inhabitants. The city is beginning to actively develop as a tourist center; in the 19th century, members of the royal family often came here on vacation. By 1901, about 73 thousand people already lived in La Spezia.
New bridge in La Spezia . Photo flickr.com
Sights of La Spezia
Fortress of St. George
(Castello di San Giorgio)
This is where you should start your visit to La Spezia, because from the top of the Colle del Poggio hill, on which the castle of San Giorgio proudly stands, you have a magnificent view of the entire city and its bay. The fortress was built in 1262 and originally served as a shelter during wars for both soldiers and townspeople.
Castello San Giorgio acquired its final appearance, which can still be admired today, in 1607, when the observation towers were completed and the outer walls were strengthened.
To this day, almost nothing remains of the original structure of the fortress; over the centuries it has been restored and restored several times. Currently, the fortress houses an archaeological museum, and next to the fortress there is a beautiful park.
Fortress of St. George. Photo guideturisticheliguria.eu
Maritime Museum
(Museo Tecnico Navale)
Viale Amendola, 1
The Maritime Museum is considered the largest museum of its kind in Italy. The museum displays more than 150 models of Italian ships, about 2,500 awards, 6,500 relics, including a collection of ship figureheads of the 15th-17th centuries, thousands of historical and technical documents.
The museum is located next to the main entrance to the La Spezia naval arsenal, founded by Italy's first prime minister Cavour in 1862. The arsenal is operational, providing employment to more than 1,000 civilians and 200 military personnel.
Museum of the Navy. Photo by ottante.it
Some of the exhibits of the maritime museum. Photo: mareonline.it
Villa Marmori
The Marmori family residence was built in 1923 by the architect Franco Oliva; it is considered one of the best examples of architecture in the Ligurian floral style and is located on Via XX Settembre.
The frescoes and stuccoes that still decorate the villa are by the hand of the master Luigi Agretti, while the paintings specially commissioned for the rooms of the villa are the work of Discovolo and Ferri (the canvases are now kept in the local museum). Pay attention to the stained glass windows of the villa, created by Beltrame, very beautiful, made with a special technique, filtering and scattering sunlight between the rooms and halls of the villa.
Since 1984, Villa Marmori has hosted the Academy of Music named after. Giacomo Puccini.
Villa Marmori. Photo zonzofox.com
Cathedral of Cristo Re
The imposing temple overlooking the central square of Europe is located on a small hill where a Capuchin monastery was once located.
In 1929, a competition was held to build a new cathedral to replace the church of Santa Maria Assunta. The winner of the competition was the architect Brennero Del Giudice, but his project was frozen until 1956, and then completely changed by the architect Adalberto Libera and, during the implementation, the original project was partially revised by Cesare Galeazzi. The temple was consecrated only in 1975.
The interior of the temple is very beautiful: twelve massive columns with the names of the apostles surround the altar and pulpit, made by the sculptor Lia Godano from marble quarried in the Apuan Alps. The church is not decorated with traditional frescoes; the walls in the initial design were supposed to be decorated with mosaics, which were never realized. Inside the cathedral are the remains of San Venerio, patron saint of the bay, and San Terenzo and Sant'Euticiano, ancient bishops of Luni.
Cathedral of Cristo Re. Photo flickr.com
Church of Santa Maria Assunta
Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta
The abbey church of Santa Maria Assunta - the first Cathedral of La Spezia - stands in Piazza Beverini. Its construction dates back to the thirteenth century and it is the oldest church in the city.
The church was heavily damaged during the bombing of World War II. After the war, in 1954, it was restored and equipped with a new façade. The central entrance of the church is decorated with 8 relief images of works of mercy. Adjacent to the church are the Chapel of Mercy, the Chapel of the Sacred Heart and the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception.
The church contains many interesting artistic and historical evidence: the terracotta of Andrea della Robbia's "Coronation of the Virgin", the icon of "The Martyrdom of St. Bartholomew" by Luca Cambiaso, the 1642 canvas by Casone Giovanni Battista, the 16th-century font, the marble statues of Our Lady and St. Anthony, as well as sarcophagi, in which contain the remains of the commander of the papal fleet, Baldassarre Biassa, and his wife.
Church of Santa Maria Assunta. Photo flickr.com
Church of Saints Giovanni and Augustine
Chiesa dei Santi Giovanni e Agostino
The church, which lies behind Piazza San Augustino, was built in the sixteenth century as a funeral home for the dead of the poor. Outwardly, the building is unremarkable and contains rich Baroque decoration within its walls.
The interior of the temple consists of a single nave, 40 meters long, covered with rich Baroque decoration, which was often restored and retouched in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. There are no particularly valuable works of art stored inside, but visitors will be interested in looking at ancient crucifixes from the 18th century, an altar from the 16th century by Bernardino Lanino and an organ from 1823 created by the Serassi brothers.
Church organ. Photo flickr.com
Palazzo Crozza
Along Corso Cavour is the Palazzo Crozza, the historical residence of the noble Crozza family, built in the mid-nineteenth century.
Classic and elegant, the palace showcases to visitors a beautiful façade and an equally beautiful, richly decorated interior. Today it houses the headquarters of the city archive, which contains historical documents ranging from the fifteenth to the nineteenth century. The top floor of the palazzo, resplendent with two large halls and a magnificent grand staircase, contains an interesting collection of paintings belonging to the collections of Luigi Agretti, currently housing the public reading room of the Ubaldo Mazzini Library.
Palazzo Castrucci. Photo flickr.com
Fish market
Piazza cavour
A fish (and gastronomic) market is held every morning on Place Cavour, under the arches of a large covered structure, which on the first Sunday of the month turns into a haven of antique stalls. The market is divided into two parts: on one side of the square there are only fishmongers, while on the other side you will find stalls with fruits, vegetables, cheeses, spices, herbs and flowers. Around the square there are many bakeries, bars, pubs, restaurants, shops and major museums. Overall, this is a place that is definitely worth a visit.
Fish market. Photo flickr.com
Sanctuary of Madonna del Olmo
Santuario della Madonna dell"Olmo
The Sanctuary of Madonna del Olmo is located on the slopes of Mount Santa Croce, on a picturesque hill overlooking the village of Fabiano, on the western side of the Gulf of Poets, at an altitude of about 280 meters above sea level. The sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady was built in 1844. This sacred place for pilgrims is located just a few kilometers (about three) from the center of La Spezia. The small, unremarkable church inside contains many treasures: as examples, the church altar, made in the Baroque style, and the beautiful image of the Madonna del Olmo, kept in the sanctuary. To get to the church, you must take the provincial highway SP530, turn (almost immediately) into via sant'andrea and climb Mount Santa Croce.
Verdi Square
Piazza Verdi
This is one of the most important squares in the city. Many famous palazzos in La Spezia are located here: the Palazzo delle Poste, built in neo-fascist style, the Palazzo degli Studi, currently home to the Classical Lyceum, and - on the corner between Via Vittorio Veneto and Piazza Verdi - the Prefectural Palace and Palazzo -della Provincia.
Piazza Verdi. Photo flickr.com
Ethnographical museum
(Museo Civico Etnografico)
Ethnographical museum, named after the traveler, naturalist, ethnographer Giovanni Podenzana, talks about the life, folk traditions and customs of the people who inhabited the Lunigiana region in the 18th-20th centuries.
Amedeo Lia Museum
Museo Civico d "arte antica, medievale i moderno “Amedeo Lia”
Via Prione, 234
The museum was opened in 1996, thanks to donations from philanthropist Amedeo Lia and his family. The museum collection contains more than 1,100 works of art - from icons to jewelry; from liturgical objects to paintings by famous Italian painters from the thirteenth century, such as Giotto and his disciples, Bernardo Daddi, Duccio, Pietro Lorenzetti, Simone Martini, Lippo Memmi, Sano di Pietro, Taddeo di Bartolo, Bicci di Lorenzo , Fra Angelico, Romanino, Veronese, Titian, etc. In the museum you can also see many beautiful sculptures made of wood, bronze and marble.
Museo Amedeo Lia. Photo flickr.com
Modern Art Museum
Centro Arte Moderna e Contemporanea della Spezia (CAMEC)
Piazza Cesare Battisti
Opened in 2004, the Camec Museum occupies three floors, on which three independent collections are located - Cozzani, Battolini and "Premio del Golfo". The collection of Giorgio Cozzani contains more than 1,200 sculptures and canvases, donated to the museum by a patron of the arts in 1998. Most of the works presented belong to abstract art, surrealism and expressionism. The next collection once belonged to the Battolinis, it includes 500 works by contemporary artists from around the world. The third collection is constantly updated with works that have won the CAMEC painting competition, "Premio del Golfo", which is held every two years. Today the exhibition contains more than 300 exhibits.
Lerici Castle Museum
Museo Castello di Lerici
Piazza San Giorgio, Lerici, La Spezia
Lerici Castle is a polygonal fort that, perched on a high rocky promontory, dominates the town of Lerici, located near La Spezia. The castle was built in 1152 and went through numerous reconstructions by the engineers of the maritime republics of Genoa and Pisa, who fought over the castle due to its strategic location. Only in 1555 the castle began to take on a modern appearance, so that today it appears before the eyes of visitors as the quintessence of various architectural styles - from Genoese to Gothic.
On the ground floor of Lerici Castle there is the Chapel of St. Anastasia, luxuriously decorated with black and white Ligurian marble.
In 1998, the fort was restored to house a paleontological museum, where you can visit a good exhibition on dinosaurs that will appeal to both children and adults.
Museum of the Castle of San Giorgio
Via XXVII Marzo
The recently restored castle houses an archaeological museum that contains relics from ancient times. On the ground floor there is a collection of archaeological finds belonging to the Neolithic and Chalcolithic era, in which you can admire the ancient stone statues of Lunigiana (anthropomorphic sculptures marking the territory, decorated with precious stones and weapons), finds from the Iron Age and Bronze Age, finds from the necropolis. The top floor is dedicated to the ancient Roman and medieval periods. For the most part, these are materials from the Fabricotti collection: architectural elements, statues, portraits, mosaics.
City Park
The city park, or rather garden, is rich in its botanical diversity; here you can see palm trees, spruces, oaks, cedars, magnolias, roses and many other plants. The first park in La Spezia was laid out in 1825; by the end of the 19th century it had expanded to almost its modern size. The park is decorated with numerous sculptures, including a monument in honor of Giuseppe Garibaldi.
City Park. Photo noidelteatro.blogspot.it
What to see near La Spezia?
While in La Spezia, be sure to visit the Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as Portovenere, located in the Gulf of Poets, and the nearby islands of Isole di Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto.
You can drive to the medieval town of Sarzana with its majestic castle and nearby Varese Ligure with its ancient streets and wonderful cheese market.
Lerici. Photo by Thinkstock
"Bay of Poets"
The wide and deep bay of the Ligurian Sea has been called the "Gulf of Poets" since 1919, when playwright Sam Benelli, while on holiday in a luxurious villa overlooking the sea in San Terenzo (Lerici), wrote his most important work, "The Supper of Ridicule".
The Bay of Poets got its nickname because over the centuries, many poets, writers and artists, fascinated by the beauty and romance of these lands, drew inspiration for their best works.
Rainbow over the Bay of Poets. Photo flickr.com
The bay borders the municipalities of Portovenere, La Spezia and Lerici, charming towns overlooking the sea and surrounded by green hills.
On the border of Liguria and Tuscany is the Montemarcello Magra Natural Park, rich not only in natural, but also in cultural and historical values.
In addition, admire the natural beauty of Cape Caprione, an ideal starting point for many excursions, and visit the Botanical Gardens of Montemarcello.
Festivals in La Spezia
Vibrant traditional festival Palio del Golfo(Palio del Golfo) takes place on the first Sunday of August and consists of a boat competition between 13 Borgos located in the "Gulf of Poets". After the awarding of the palio, the celebration continues with musical performances, food fairs and open-air theater performances. The boat regatta has been held annually since 1929 as part of the Levanto Maritime Festival. Thousands of tourists come every year to see the colorful spectacle.
Palio del Golfo. Photo flickr.com
Fair of San Giuseppe(Fiera di San Giuseppe:) is held for three days, starting on March 19, in honor of the feast of St. Joseph.
This annual fair for food and non-food products attracts about 1,000 participants and many guests.
What to try in La Spezia?
Locally produced black pepper is an integral part of most Spices culinary recipes, among which “meshua”, which in the local dialect means “mixture” - a soup of beans, wheat and chickpeas, is especially popular.
Typical Spice dishes include delicious flatbreads, which are baked only here; chickpea flour stew; “sgabei” - fried flatbreads made from yeast dough filled with cheese, ham, or, in the sweet version, cream or chocolate; stuffed pumpkin flowers; vegetable casseroles. In the suburb of La Spezia, Pitelli serves particularly delicious ravioli with meat, potatoes and herbs, while Campiglia is famous for its saffron cultivation.
Sgabei from La Spezia. Photo: universocucina.com
Pumpkin flowers stuffed with soft goat cheese. Photo: nerodiseppiae.blogspot.it
La Spezia is famous for its fish market, where you can find freshly caught seafood every morning. It is no coincidence that one of the local specialties is stuffed mussels, which are specially bred here.
Spices worth noting are the white Colli di Luni DOC and Cinque Terre DOC.
(Riviera Ligure del Levante). It is not a tourist destination, but is quite interesting in itself, with its sea and mountains. In the summer there are, in fact, many tourists who travel along the famous route: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, which were included in the UNESCO list in 1997 , and stop here.
The city is located in the bay of the same name, also called the Gulf of Poets, as the threshold of the territory of the Apuan Alps. Other World Heritage sites nearby include Porto Venere and the islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto. It's definitely worth spending a day walking around the city, visiting its main attractions and exploring the surrounding area. For lovers of the history of navigation, it will be the best place for entertainment, and the prices for accommodation will pleasantly surprise you.
Much of its development owes to the naval weapons factory built here in 1860. In 2009, the city became the second largest in Liguria: 95,635 inhabitants. People have lived here since time immemorial, and development took place during the Roman Empire in the region of Luni, near modern Sarzana. In the 13th century became the center of the Signoria of Fieschi and thereby established strong ties with Genoa. Despite its proximity to Tuscany, more precisely, to the cities of Massa and Carrara, it is a purely Ligurian city. The influence of Genoa can be seen today in the cities, their buildings and types of decoration. There was also a maritime prefecture of the French Empire and later the Duchy of Genoa in the Kingdom of Sardinia. After the transfer of the military fleet from Genoa in 1857, the city became the main naval base, and in 1923 - the center of the province of the same name.
After the Second World War it became a place of refuge for Jews who survived concentration camps. From the summer of 1945 to the spring of 1948, more than 23,000 Jews managed to secretly leave Italy. The ships "Hope", "Phoenix" and "Exotus" left the bay with a large cargo of humanitarian aid from the city, which on Israeli maps is called the Gates of Zion (Porta di Sion).
The streets are filled with the scent of bergamot. The houses are usually accompanied by a 19th-century style garden with palm trees; This is especially true for the houses of Chiodo Street. Classical architecture, liberty style villas, wide streets and embankments, St. Augustine Square(Piazza Sant Agostino) resurrect the past. Now the city center is completely pedestrianized, and Prone Street is home to many shops and stalls - this is one of the busiest streets in the city.
Attractions La Spezia
The historical center attracts tourists: some mountain “serpentine” and old mansions have been preserved here. Among other things, there is the opportunity to visit the medieval Castle of San Giorgio(Castello medievale di San Giorgio) with Museum Ubaldo Formentini(Museo Civico Ubaldo Formentini), Museum of Printing(Museo del Sigillo), Amadeo Lia Museum(Museo Amadeo Lia), Fleet Museum(Museo Navale) and Armory(1861-1869, reconstructed from 1945). Religious monuments are presented Cathedral of Christ the Savior(Cattedrale di Cristo Redentore) with unique architecture and Abbey of Assunta(Abbazia dell’Assunta), which houses important works of art.
The embankment with the park offers views of the vast horizon. From the central train station, located in Piazza Medaglie d'Oro, you can get to Lerici, San Terenzio and Sardzana. The other two stations are Migliarina and Ca’ di Boschetti.
Holidays La Spezia
There are many seasonal celebrations in La Spezia: Festival of Saint Giuseppe(March 19), also called the Fair of St. Giuseppe, the patron saint of the city, when more than 600 stalls from all over the peninsula open here; Sea Festival (first Sunday in August), a picturesque boat race; musical such as International Jazz and Pop Festival.
Since the city is surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, wine and olive oil are an integral part of local feasts. Be sure to try the local cuisine: salted Monterosso anchovies with olive oil and other fish dishes, as well as focaccia.
The large city in Italy with its name stands in incredible contrast to the small villages and countryside around it. The city is located 100 km from Genoa in a cozy bay known as the “Bay of Poets”. This nickname did not appear by chance, since many prominent personalities came here to seek inspiration, inspired by the beauty of the local nature and its tranquility. George Sand, Lord Byron, David Herbert Lawrence, Percy Bysshe Shelley and others often visited here. Today, having visited the “Gulf of Spice” and remembering the words of the classic English lyricist Percy Shelley, it will be impossible to take your eyes off the beauty of the “blue city of dreams and love.”
History of La Spezia
The history of this city begins with its name. It was first documented as Spezam (1256). The article La that exists today was finally established only in 1926, and before that it was canceled several times and appeared before the name.
Archaeologists have proven that the territory belonging to the modern city of La Spezia was inhabited already in prehistoric times. Much later, the Ligurian tribes settled here, which were conquered and became a Roman colony under the leadership of Marcus Claudius Marcellus in 155 BC. e. The fall of the empire (VI century) contributed to the violent attack of Germanic tribes on the territory of the city. And after the end of the Byzantine-Gothic wars (mid-6th century), La Spezia became part of one of the Byzantine provinces on the Apennine Peninsula.
Later in the 7th century. The city was conquered by the Lombards, and after them power passed to the Frankish king Charlemagne. In 9th century La Spezia was plundered by the Vikings, and the Saracens also carried out their destructive raids, which negatively affected the development of the area and led to its decline. Bit by bit, the city began to be filled with residents of neighboring settlements, and already in the 10th-11th centuries a fortress was founded here on a hill, which in the middle of the 12th century. fell under the rule of Genoa and became an important trading center of the state. However, by the end of the XIV century. Due to the war between Venice and Genoa, La Spezia came under the patronage of the Milanese Visconti dynasty.
Continuing to develop in a commercial direction in 1654, the Genoese Republic allowed Jews into the city, who contributed to the emergence of new fairs and market squares here. After the fall of one republic (1797), La Spezia became part of another - Ligurian, which was subordinate to France under the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte, and after his fall - to the Kingdom of Sardinia.
By the time of the unification of Italy, the city had about 6 thousand inhabitants. After the city began to develop in a tourist direction, its population increased significantly, and by 1901 about 73 thousand inhabitants lived in La Spezia.
Top 10 attractions in La Spezia
Having visited the city of La Spezia in Italy, it is best to start exploring it with this attraction. Firstly, it offers a beautiful view of the city and its beautiful bay, because the 13th century castle of San Giorgio, which served as a defense during the period of hostilities, is located on the top of the Colle del Poggio hill. It acquired its final appearance with fortified outer walls and observation towers only in 1607. The second reason for visiting this place is that there is an amazing park near the castle, and an archaeological museum is located in the fortress itself.
Museum of the Navy. This establishment is considered the largest of its kind in all of Italy. Its funds include hundreds of examples of Italian ships, about 2.5 thousand of various awards and 6.5 thousand of various relics (for example, a collection of figureheads of ships of the 15th-17th centuries), thousands of copies of historical and technical documentation. The museum is located near another attraction of La Spezia - its naval arsenal, founded in 1862. It still operates, with a staff of 200 military and 1 thousand civilians.
Palazzo Crozza. The legendary landmark of La Spezia - the historical residence of the Italian Crozza family - was built in the mid-19th century. Its classic elegance and rich interior seem to demonstrate the sophistication of all of Italy. At the moment, the headquarters of the city archive is located here, containing various documents from the 15th to 19th centuries. On the top floor, reached by a richly decorated grand staircase, there are two large halls where the reading room of the public library “Ubaldo Mazzini” is located. By the way, here you can also admire a collection of beautiful paintings that once belonged to Luigi Agretti.
Ethnographical museum. The Museum named after Giovanni Podenzana, an Italian ethnographer and naturalist, contains a good collection of ethnographic materials telling about the traditions and customs of the inhabitants who inhabited the Lunigiana region in the 15th-19th centuries.
Villa Marmoni. This residence in Italy was built by local architect Frank Oliva for the Marmoni family in 1923. The villa was created in the floral Ligurian style and is still considered an example of such architecture. The interior of the attraction is decorated with frescoes and sculptures by the master Luigi Agretti, but the paintings located in the rooms were painted specifically for them, commissioned by the artist Discovolo Ferri. The grandiose stained glass windows of Villa Marmoni were created by another famous Italian - Beltrame and are unique in that they are made with a special technique capable of scattering the sun's rays between rooms and halls. In the 80s of the XX century. The Academy of Music named after Giacomo Puccini settled here.
Church of Saints Giovanni and Augustine. This landmark of Italy, located behind Piazza San Augustino, was erected in the 16th century. Initially, its function was to perform funeral services for deceased people of the poor class. Not very attractive from the outside, the building keeps its rich cultural heritage inside. The interior, made in the Baroque style, consists of a single nave, the length of which is 40 m. It is covered with luxurious decoration, restored over the course of the 15th-19th centuries. There are not many special works of art here, however, the ancient crucifixes of the 17th century and the organ of the 19th century are of interest. works by the Serassi brothers and a 16th-century altar by master Bernadino Lanino.
Cristo Re - Cathedral. This relatively new masterpiece of religious architecture appeared in Italy only in the 20th century. The temple was erected on the rise of the central square, where in more ancient times there was a Capuchin monastery. In 1929, it was decided to rebuild the cathedral, but the project for its creation was frozen for some time. It was not until 1956 that the monastery was designed by the architect Adalberto Libera and completed by Cerase Galeazzi. The cult landmark was consecrated only in 1975. Inside the temple there is an incredibly beautiful decoration: 12 columns corresponding to the names of the apostles, in the center there is a pulpit and an altar made of Apuan marble (sculptor Lia Godano). The interior of Christo-René is decorated with neither frescoes nor mosaics. The plan, unfortunately, was never realized. Inside are the relics of San Venerio - the patron saint of the "Bay of La Spezia", Sant'Euticiano and San Terenzo, the ancient bishops of Luni.
On Cavour Square there is a shopping attraction of the city - a gastronomic and fish market. Every morning, hundreds of merchants gather here, under a large roof, and on Sundays, antique shopkeepers. The market is conventionally divided into 2 parts: the first is filled only with fish, and the second with fruits, spices, cheeses, herbs, etc. Around the square there are a variety of bakeries, shops and restaurants, the freshness of the products is beyond doubt.
La Spezia City Park. It contains a rich botanical collection comparable to one of the largest in Italy. There are palm trees, spruces, oaks, cedars, roses, magnolias, orchids and other plants. There are also sculptures in the park area, among which you can find the monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi.
Museum of the Castle of San Giorgio. The building, after a recent renovation, houses an archaeological museum. The first floor, according to tradition, contains finds associated with the Eneolithic and Neolithic eras - stone statues decorated with weapons and precious stones, as well as objects from necropolises of the Iron and Bronze Ages. Climbing higher, you can admire collections associated with the ancient Roman and medieval periods.
La Spezia- a port city in the eastern part of the. In addition to its tourist focus, La Spezia is the center of the Italian military industry and one of the largest commercial and military harbors in Italy. From here there are direct ferries to and from the coast.
Getting to La Spezia:
By train:
La Spezia Central Station - La Spezia Centrale. Trains arrive to La Spezia from Rome, Naples, Pisa, Florence, Parma, Milan, Genoa, Savona, Turin... Italian trains website
By bus:
- Buses in the La Spezia region: www.atcesercizio.it.
Attractions in La Spezia:
La Spezia Castle
In La Spezia the castle of St. George - Castle of San Giorgio - 13th century. Until the beginning of the 17th century, the castle was rebuilt several times. The castle now houses an archaeological museum, which, among other things, exhibits finds from the Etruscan era.
Naval Arsenal
The Naval Arsenal of La Spezia was built in the mid-19th century by naval engineer Domenico Chiodo, whose monument is erected in front of the entrance to the arsenal. Now the Arsenal has become a naval museum.
Ancient churches of La Spezia:
Several ancient churches have been preserved in La Spezia: the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (XIII century), the Church of St. John and Augustine (1797), the Church of St. Stephen (XIII century, but from that time only one wall has been preserved), the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1897-1901, made in the neo-Byzantine style).
Chiesa di Santa Maria Della Assunta
The monastic church of Santa Maria della Assunta - the Assumption of the Virgin Mary - dates back to the 13th century. Inside you can admire a significant series of artistic works that were brought here from the abolished churches. Among them are “The Coronation of the Virgin Mary” by Andrea della Robbia, “The Multiplication of the Loaves” by Giovanni Battista Casoni, and “The Martyrdom of St. Bartolomeo" by Luca Cambiaso.
Amadeo Lia Museum
The Aamadeo Lia Museum, housed in a former 17th-century Franciscan monastery, houses a collection of Middle Eastern and Renaissance art.
Museums of La Spezia:
- Ubaldo Formentini-Civic Museum in the Castle of St. George (Museo del Castello di San Giorgio – Museo civico archeologico)
- Palazzina delle Arti and the Seal Museum(palazzina delle Arti e Museo del Sigillo)
- Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art(Centro d'arte moderna e contemporanea, CAMeC)
