Gulf of La Spezia

Via del Prione 234 Tel. +39/0187/731100 
Opened from Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00-18:00. Closed on Monday.
Entrance € 6,00 (reduced for militaries, seniors older than 70 years, children from 6 to 13 years and scholastic groups who are not from the surroundings ITL 6.000 € 3,1). 
Possibility of guided tours.

San Giorgio Castle, Via XXVII Marzo Tel. +39/0187/739537 
Entrance €5,00, different reductions are available.
Open hours: from Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00-13:00 and 14:00-19:00. Sunday 9:00-13:00. 
Closed on Monday.

Piazza Domenico Chiodo 19100 La Spezia - Tel. 0187 / 770750
Entrance € 1,55.
Opening hours WINTER
(From 1st January until 28th June, and from 8th September unteil 31st December)
Working days: 08.30 – 18.00 - Holidays: 10.15 – 15.45
Opening hours SUMMER
(From 29th June until 7th September)
Working days: 08.30 – 18.00 - Holidays: 10.15 – 15.45

OTHER MUSEUMS

The other centers of remarkable tourist and environmental interest are Lerici, which is situated in the most eastern part of the gulf, with its antique Castle and sea promenade which will lead you to San Terenzo, and Porto Venere situated on the other side of the Gulf. Lerici is a small sea village, with numerous corners which should be visited and frequented in order to pass an intense day close to the sea. From Lerici you can reach other resorts which are certainly of tourist interest, like e.g. Maralunga, Fiascherino and Tellaro close to the coast, and Monte Marcello and La Serra on the mountain side.

From the other side of the Gulf, going towards Portovenere you deviate for Campiglia. Intermediate point in the territory between the Mountain "Muzzerone", and the resort "Schiara". Campiglia is an important transit point as it is close to the panoramic path N° 1, which connects Monterosso with Portovenere.

At Porto Venere, in addition to the classic visit of the Church "San Pietro", constructed on the promontory of "Arpaia" between the 4th and the 5th century on the rests of an already existing heathen temple, you should have a look at the Church "San Lorenzo", the House of the "Doria", and the Castle - its construction started in 1161 and finished in the 16th century. The beautiful and suggestive Portovenere offers the possibility of living the sea with the help of numerous companies which are responsible for the charter of ferries or the organization of personalized trips. In the village Le Grazie it could be interesting having a look at the rests of the Roman villa "Varignano" built between 80 and 85 b.Chr.

In front of Porto Venere, separated by a strait called "Le Bocche", shows up the Island Palmaria which today is a natural regional park. 
It can easily be reached with the ferry boats which are in departure from the main docking of the Gulf, and it offers the tourist the possibility of wonderful walks in the middle of the evidences of the military's presence on the island (old prisons, the tower school, bunkers), rests from the Paleolithic, and panoramic parts from where you can see "the Tino", Lerici, Tellaro, Montemarcello and the Apuan Alps. 
The main reason for the island's visit are the excursions, but in addition to this you have the possibility of swimming in a clear and clean sea.

Certainly interesting for tourists are: the rock of the "Tinetto" and the island of the "Tino", separated from the Island Palmaria by a narrow channel. 
On the top stands the lighthouse which indicates to the navigators that they are close to the Gulf. You can put your feet on the ground of this island only on the day of S. Venerio, who stayed here during the last years of his life, as an hermit until his death in 630.