La Spezia

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Comune della Spezia
Region Liguria
Province Province of La Spezia (SP)
Altitude 0
Area city proper 51
Population as of december 31, 2004
Population density 94,206
Population density metric 1,785
Timezone CET, UTC+1
Frazioni Biassa, Campiglia, La Foce, Pitelli, San Venerio, Sarbia
Telephone 0187
Postal code 19100, 19121-19126, 19131-19139
Gentilic Spezzini
Saint St. Joseph
Day March 19
Mayor Giorgio Pagano (since May 28, 2002)
Website www.comune.sp.it


La Spezia (Spèsa in the local dialect of Ligurian) is a city in the Liguria region of northern Italy, at the head of La Spezia Gulf, and capital city of the province of La Spezia.
It is one of the major Italian military and commercial harbours, located between Genoa and Pisa on the Ligurian Sea. La Spezia also hosts one of the biggest military industries of Italy, OTO Melara.

Map of Italy showing La Spezia in the northwest.
Panorama of La Spezia.


Main sights

La Spezia is a point of departure to go to the Cinque Terre either by Train or Boat. The boat also leads you to Lerici and Portovenere before turning into the open sea towards the Cinque Terre. Both Lerici and Portovenere are reachable by public transport (15km) from the central station of La Spezia.


Churches

  • Cristo Re dei Secoli (Christ the King of Centuries, cathedral)
  • Santa Maria Assunta (Our Lady of the Assumption)
  • Santi Giovanni e Agostino (Saints Giovanni and Agostino)

Museums

  • "Ubaldo Formentini" - Civic Museum in the Castle of San Giorgio
  • "Amedeo Lia" Museum
  • Palazzina delle Arti and Museum of Seals
  • Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (CAMeC)
  • Diocesan Museum
  • Ethnographic Civic Museum
  • Technical Naval Museum
  • National Transportation Museum

Others

Events

View from the sea.
  • San Giuseppe Patron Saint of the city, March 19th.
  • Palio del Golfo 1st Sunday in August.
  • Cercantico Antique fair, 1st Sunday of every month except July and August.

Notable people

See also

External links