Italy
La Spezia (for Florence/Pisa),Italy
La Spezia, Italy: Florence, Pisa, or the Cinque Terre Coast from One Port
La Spezia lies on the Ligurian Sea about halfway between Genoa and Pisa, and Via del Prione, the narrow street that divides its old town in two, is named for a large stone where announcements were once read out. For the Cinque Terre, take the regional trains, since most long-distance services skip some of the five villages.
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Overview
Cruise ships use the cruise terminal on Molo Garibaldi in La Spezia's commercial port, and some also tie up at Molo Varicella. The city's main station, La Spezia Centrale, about 500 meters northwest of the center, is where trains leave for the Cinque Terre, Pisa and Florence. Pisa and Florence are inland, so ships call at La Spezia and passengers reach them by train.
- In Pisa, trains arrive at Pisa Centrale, and in Florence at Firenze Santa Maria Novella.
- Boats for Portovenere and the Cinque Terre leave from the Passeggiata Morin, on Viale Italia along the waterfront.
- Your ship will tell you whether a shuttle runs from the pier into town.
La Spezia on Your Own
A port day in La Spezia can stay in the city, go by train to the Cinque Terre, or reach Pisa or Florence, which means a longer train ride each way. The Cinque Terre villages are the closest of these, about 15 kilometers from the central station, and each has its own station.
- The Cinque Terre by train: The five villages, Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso, lie on the regional railway between La Spezia and Levanto, and local trains are frequent. Check the timetable for Sundays and holidays.
- By boat: Boats from the Passeggiata Morin call at Portovenere and then head along the coast to the Cinque Terre. Portovenere and the islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto share the World Heritage listing with the Cinque Terre.
- Staying in town: Via del Prione, the narrow street through the old town, leads to the Amedeo Lia Museum at number 234. The Castle of San Giorgio, the oldest military building in the city, is also in the center.
- Pisa or Florence: Plan the return train first and leave a wide margin, since a delay inland can cost you the ship.
- Carry ID: Italian police can ask for identification at any time, so carry photo ID with you.
- Getting back on time: All-aboard is usually about 30 minutes before sailing, and your ship posts the exact time. A ship will not wait for passengers touring on their own.
Getting Around
Trains are the way to reach almost everything from La Spezia. For the Cinque Terre, the Cinque Terre Treno Card covers regional trains between La Spezia and Levanto, the paid trails and the park's local buses for a day.
- In the 2026 main season, from mid-March to 1 November, a one-day adult Treno Card was €22, €29.50 or €35 depending on the day. Check before you go.
- The Trekking Card, for the trails and park buses without the trains, was €10 a day, or €15 on peak days.
- Cars can reach the villages only with difficulty, which is why the train and boat are the usual way in.
- Within La Spezia, ATC runs the city buses and trolleybuses.
- Look up times to Pisa and Florence before you set out, and allow plenty of time for the journey back.
Food
Ligurian cooking is built on pesto, focaccia and chickpea flour, and La Spezia adds dishes of its own. Trofie with pesto is the pasta you will see most often.
- Trofie is a short pasta made from wheat or chestnut flour, served with pesto.
- Farinata is like a focaccia made with chickpea flour.
- Mescciüa is La Spezia's own soup of legumes and cereals, dressed with olive oil and black pepper.
- Focaccia and vegetable pies (torte di verdura) are everyday Ligurian food.
- Monterosso is known for salted anchovies, and fritelle di bianchetti are fritters of tiny young fish.
Tipping
Tips are not customary in Italy, and waiters do not expect one, though they will not refuse it. Most restaurants already charge a cover and service price, the coperto.
- If you want to leave something for good service, a euro or two is plenty.
- Leaving the change for a taxi driver is common.
- Italy uses the euro.
A Brief History
La Spezia was a small Genoese town until the new Kingdom of Italy built its great naval arsenal here after 1861, and it has been a navy city ever since. Its castle and old town are older than the arsenal by many centuries.
- Roman times: The main Roman town in the area was Luni, near Sarzana.
- The Fieschi and Genoa: La Spezia was the capital of Niccolò Fieschi's short-lived lordship from 1256 to 1273, and then followed the fortunes of the Republic of Genoa until 1797.
- The castle: Fieschi built a first castle in 1262. Genoa destroyed it in 1273, and new walls and a fortification went up from 1371, with a further castle added from 1607.
- The arsenal, 1861: The royal government commissioned a great naval arsenal after 1861, and the city grew quickly around it.
- The fleet sails, 1943: In September 1943, after Italy's surrender to the Allies, the Italian fleet left La Spezia for Malta to hand itself over to the British, before the Germans could stop it.
- A harbor of hope, 1945 to 1948: More than 23,000 Jewish survivors of the Nazi camps left Italy clandestinely from the Gulf of La Spezia for Palestine, and Israeli maps call the city Shaʿar Zion, "Gate of Zion".
- World Heritage, 1997: The Cinque Terre, Portovenere and the islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1997.
- To learn more ashore: The Naval Technical Museum, beside the main gate of the naval arsenal, is the most important of Italy's naval museums and has been on this site since 1958.
Traveling With Children
With children, the Cinque Terre by train is the easiest big day from La Spezia: rides between villages are short, and you can stop when legs get tired.
- Younger children: Children under 4 travel free on the Treno Card. Choose villages near the sea rather than Corniglia, which sits on top of a tall cliff.
- Teenagers: A stretch of the paid trail between villages, covered by the Trekking Card, makes a real walk.
- Close to town: Sarzana, 15 kilometers east, holds a market every Wednesday and has a funfair for children.
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