What to see around La Spezia besides the Cinque Terre?

Hi, I’m planning my trip to La Spezia and I’m struggling to find nice places to visit besides the Cinque Terre and Portovenere. Budget: Mid-range NO hiking

Can you help me out?

Thanks!

Hello, I’m planning my trip to La Spezia and I’m struggling to find nice places to visit besides the Cinque Terre and Portovenere. Budget: Mid-range NO hiking

Can you help me?

Thanks!

Yes, apart from the Cinque Terre... not much. La Spezia is a naval military base in Italy. Bombed flat by the British, its architecture isn’t particularly representative of Italy. A bit like Turin.

On the hill, there’s a fairly interesting Lapidary Museum. Then, with a quick train ride, you can head to Pisa or Florence.

Best,

Hi,

The cheapest option is the bus to Portovenere.

Check out, for example: https://www.visiter-cinque-terre.com/bus-portovenere/

I second Michel’s message: Obviously Pisa and Florence, both within easy train reach.

I second Michel’s message: Of course Pisa and Florence, both within easy train reach.

Pisa: 1-hour train ride Florence: 2-hour train ride

Where’s the "plussoyage"? Or the "plussoyation," sorry?

Well then...

The marble quarries in Carrara, just 50 km south of La Spezia!

Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino to the north of La Spezia (55 minutes by train).

Porto Venere to the south, 30 minutes by bus.

The two castles to the north, 25 km into the mountains: Castello di Madrignano and Castello Doria Malaspina.

The other side of the Gulf of Poets (!) – Tellaro and Lerici...

Cheers, Michel

And just like Porto Venere (to the south), which isn’t in the group of five! There’s also Levanto (to the north), right near Monterosso...

Well then...

The marble quarries in Carrara, just 50 km south of La Spezia!

Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino to the north of La Spezia (55 min by train).

Porto Venere to the south, 30 min by bus.

The two castles to the north, 25 km toward the mountains: Castello di Madrignano and Castello Doria Malaspina.

The other side of the Gulf of Poets (!) – Tellaro and Lerici...

Cheers, Michel

Hey PapJ!!

Okay for Carrara and visiting the quarries and the old town;

There’s no direct train to Portofino. You’ll need to take either the train that goes through the Cinque Terre and arrives at Santa Margherita Ligure (with a transfer), then the bus or boat to Portofino, or the direct train from La Spezia to Santa Margherita and then the bus or boat. Quite an expedition for just one day.

There’s also a boat that runs from Rapallo to Portofino! And Rapallo is really nice!

And the gentleman said Porto Venere didn’t interest him. 😉

Cheers, PapJ! !

Hey there...

We’ll be spending 6 nights in La Spezia (among other places) at the end of May, and we’ll definitely take the direct train to Santa Margherita Ligure—sounds like it’s worth a visit! Then we’ll hop on the bus to Portofino (the local Saint-Tropez... just to "see" it), and that’ll take a full day round trip.

I don’t assume something "isn’t interesting" (especially if it’s just social media hype...), so I’ll check it out myself because there’s always some hidden gem I’ll remember later! You know how it is—you do the same...

All the best, and greetings from the Nooorth.

PS: I’m looking into Rapallo.

Hi there...

We’ll be in La Spezia for 6 nights (among other places) at the end of May, and we’ll definitely take the direct train to Santa Margherita Ligure, which seems worth visiting! Then the bus to Portofino (the local Saint-Tropez... just to "see"), and that’ll take a full round-trip day.

I don’t assume something "isn’t interesting" (especially if it’s just social media opinions...), I’ll check it out myself because there’s always some hidden gem I’ll remember later! You know how it is, you do the same...

Take care and best from the Nooorth.

PS: I’m looking into Rapallo.

A day to do Santa Margherita and Portofino? You’ll be rushing. It’s pretty much impossible.

In Santa Margherita, there’s the old town center (a really beautiful church) and the waterfront up to the Chiesa Di San Giacomo.

Portofino is a very small town. The lower part is nice, charming. The ideal plan is to head up to the castle for a visit, then take the cliffside path for a Prosecco at the little bar by the Portofino Lighthouse! Basically, you’ll need a good morning just to explore Portofino.

Hi, My reply will include elements from previous answers. In Tuscany, the region north of La Spezia where castles were mentioned by earlier contributors, is called Lunigiana. Do a search for "Lunigiana" to find more info. I haven’t been there yet, so I can’t say much more (I’d love to go).

In Liguria (very close to Tuscany), Luni: an archaeological site and the National Archaeological Museum. It was the marble port during Roman times.

In Tuscany, Carrara, the marble city, and the marble quarries of the Apuan Alps. Carrara: the town center (rose window of the cathedral), the Marble Museum, and the Carmi Museum.

Above Carrara, head up toward the quarries. There’s an info point near a Roman-era cutting plan (free), with a view toward Colonnata. At Fantiscritti, a museum focused on quarry workers’ activities (complements the one in Carrara). Quarries all around—you can visit some (price ???) by 4x4. I didn’t do it because I preferred visiting the Monte Corchia quarry in Levigliani. In this village, you can visit small museums, a cave with concretions (Antro del Corchia), a marble quarry (not open-air), and a cinnabar mine (cinnabar is a mercury ore).

Levigliani is a village located above Querceta and Seravezza on the slopes of the Apuan Alps.

In this entire region (coastal plain at the foot of the Apuan Alps), allow plenty of time for travel—driving isn’t fast.

Hello,

In this entire region (coastal plain at the foot of the Apuan Alps), allow plenty of time for travel; you won’t be driving fast.

That’s so true! Not the same as in the Dolomites. Though, really! 😉