La Spezia, on the north-west coast of Italy, is a town that is often overlooked by tourists, but there is plenty to recommend it for a stopover or even a longer stay. Its strategic position means that for many centuries, it has been the principal base for the Italian navy. However, for the tourist, it’s a great place from which to explore the Ligurian Riviera – especially if you’re planning on hiring a car in La Spezia. Head along the coast and you’ll find long golden beaches and be able to discover local trattorias where you can enjoy simple food which often features the Ligurian speciality of pesto.
The Museo Amedeo Lia is La Spezia’s key cultural attraction and features paintings from between the 13th and 18th century by old masters including Tintoretto, Titian and Montagna as well as both Roman and Christian artefacts. As you’d expect from an important naval port, there is also the Museo Tecnico Navale where many aspects of sea-faring are explored and there is a fine collection of sailing ships’ figureheads on display. Hiring a car in La Spezia also means that you will be able to explore the Cinque Terre which are five small fishing villages along the coast – although their inaccessibility does mean it’s a better idea to take one of the many boat trips that leave from La Spezia to visit them.
