La Spezia’s cruise port serves as the entry point for travelers headed to high-profile destinations like the Cinque Terre, Florence, or Pisa. Those who take a few hours to visit the old town, however, are rewarded with a surprisingly charming city rich in art nouveau architecture, a historic market square, and a palm-lined promenade along the sea. This historic seaport is also known for its traditional cuisine, so visitors pause here for home cooking classes with a local host or dining experiences in the old-school trattoria eateries.
La Spezia is cold in winter, with biting winds, but in spring it becomes a balmy seaside town. The town is known for its busy port, which welcomes cruise ships bound for the Cinque Terre or Tuscany. If you visit in spring (around March 19th), you can join residents in celebrating the city’s patron saint, San Giuseppe, and enjoy a sprawling three-day street market along the port and a historic rowing competition.
La Spezia is an important transportation hub with a busy cruise and ferry port, a train station, and two national highways, making it easy to reach the city and to make it a base for exploring nearby destinations. The historic center is walking distance from both the port and the train station, so you can easily see the city’s sights on foot. The local Spezia in bici bike-sharing service also has pick-up and return spots all across the city.
Spezia’s most beloved dish is a rich soup with origins rooted in poverty. La mesciua spezzina is a hearty potage made from chickpeas, beans, and wheat or spelt kernels that are simmered until they are meltingly soft and served with a drizzle of olive oil and cracked pepper. This specialty was invented by port workers’ wives, who would scavenge legumes and grains that had fallen from sacks onto the docks as ships were loaded and unloaded.
