La Spezia

La Spezia was once a small and idyllic fishing village. Its ideal situation, however, lent itself to military use and it was declared a naval port and was used for manufacturing arms and was declared a naval port.

La Spezia has been Italy's main naval base since the early 19th century. Those with an interest in naval history should not miss the Museo Tecnico Navale (Mon, Fri 14.00 – 18.00, Tue-Thu, Sat 09.00 – 12.00, 14.00 – 18.00, Sun 08.30 – 13.15). The entrance fees are given to a naval orphans fund.

The church of S. Maria Assunta was badly damaged in the war and later rebuilt, so the façade displays a variety of styles. Inside you can admire the 'Coronation of Mary with Saints' by Andrea della Robbia from Florence.

Castello San Giorgio, formerly a Fieschi stronghold of the 13th century, offers a wonderful view over La Spezia.

The Museo Civico Ubaldo Formentoni (Tue-Sat 08.30 – 13.00, 14.30 – 19.00, Sun 09.00 – 13.00) in Via Curtatone houses the Lunigiana statue-steles, a collection of stone figures which have been variously interpreted as abstract cult images of gods, statues of ancestors or even border stones with an astrological significance.

The Museo Amedeo Lia (Tue-Sun 10.00 – 18.00) holds an important collection of Italian paintings from the Renaissance and the Middle Ages.