The Gulf of La Spezia goes into the coast 15 km in length and 8 km in width.
It extends between two ridges of the Apennines Mountains that divide it from the Magra river valley on the east side and from the sea on the west side.
On this side we find Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto Islands. The gulf is enchanting, water is of a deep blue, the imposing scenary of the Apuanian Mountains dominates it.

La Spezia origins seem to date back to the III century B.C. the first historical informations about this maritime resort belong to the late Middle Ages.
During the XIII century it was annexed to the Republic of Genoa, whose historical events La Spezia shared.
At the end of the XVIII century the Napoleonic Army conquered the town. In 1808 Napoleon himself decreed that the Gulf of La Spezia was a military one and started the construction of the Military Arsenal which will be, up to nowadays, the most important in Italy.

» Architecture and monuments
St George Castle, XVII Marzo street, consists of two buildings: the Fieschi Castle (1262) and the biggest square scarped fortification, built by the Genoese at the beginning of XVII century.

» Art and Archaeology
Civic Museum U. Formentini
Archaeologic - ethnographic department
Via Curtatone 9, tel. 0187.739.537, closed on Mondays
You'll find the famous collection of "Statue Stele"

Civic Museum A. Lia
Ancient, Medioeval and Modern Art
Via Prione 234, tel. 0187.731.100, closed on Mondays

The Naval Museum of the Navy
Piazza D. Chiodo, tel. 0187.770.750
It collects many interesting founds, such as the valuable figure-heads adorning the prow of sailing-vessels, or the "pigs" i.e. the underwater craft used during raids of World War II.