Excursions from La Spezia Port to Pisa and Cinque Terre

The Port City of La Spezia

 

La Spezia is a port city in northwestern Italy, on the Italian Riviera, where cruise ships sailing the Mediterranean arrive. The port is primarily a cargo port, and therefore walking inside it is prohibited. If you want to tour the city or its surroundings independently, you can use the free shuttle services offered by the port.

 

 

The city of La Spezia is pleasant for a short walk, mainly among its ancient buildings, but it is not a long or extraordinary trip. Therefore, it is recommended for those arriving here on a cruise that the port serve as a starting point for more successful star trips in the area such as: the five cliffside coastal villages of Cinque Terre and Pisa.

 

For those not arriving in the area by cruise ship and looking for successful accommodation:

Recommended Hotels Near Cinque Terre

Park Hotel Argento

4-star hotel, located a 10-minute walk from the beach. Air-conditioned rooms. Outdoor pool, restaurant, bar, sauna. Free internet and parking.

 

Or: In the town of Sestri Levante north of Cinque Terre:

Grand Hotel Dei Castelli

4-star hotel located in a former castle building. Adjoining protected beach like a natural pool, sun terraces, restaurant and bar. Free internet and parking.

Villa Agnese

3-star hotel, air-conditioned rooms, outdoor pool, bar, free internet and parking. 

Hotel Due Mari

4-star hotel located a minute's walk from the beach. Indoor and outdoor pool, 3 restaurants. Free internet.

Cinque Terre - The Five Villages

♦  Booking a tour from Viator

-  Private guided tour from La Spezia port to Cinque Terre:
     Private Tour: Cinque Terre from La Spezia

Booking a tour from GetYourGuide

A wonderful way to see the beautiful villages is to take a guided boat tour along the coasts and see the wonderful villages from the sea side including a stop and disembarkation at one site with an option for swimming:

 

Near the city of La Spezia extends a coast recognized as a nature reserve and an international heritage area by UNESCO. The nature reserve is called Cinque Terre, "The Five Villages". Small houses, colorful buildings, narrow streets, staircases carved into the rocks, turquoise-hued sea, a small pier. This is the scenery characterizing the nature reserve. In the past the area was considered a true secret pearl, since until 50 years ago it was very difficult to reach. Until 1960 the villages could only be reached by boats or walking paths. Today, on the other hand, there is a railway line running along the coast and through it you can travel, relatively easily, between the villages. Since there is no car entry, it is highly recommended to take the train from La Spezia. The train station is about a 20-minute walk from the port, and alternatively you can take a taxi. Another option is to join an organized tour, departing on behalf of the ship, or a boat tour along the coasts.
For those arriving by cruise ship, trip time in the area is limited. Therefore, you cannot manage to visit all the villages. It is recommended to choose one section and tour it in depth. In addition, before arriving at the port – especially in the winter months – it is recommended to check regarding road and route conditions. On rainy days, the road is blocked and the villages, or some of them, cannot be reached.

 

 

Highly recommended: Walking trail from the town of Monterosso al Mare, the northernmost of the five towns, to the town of Vernazza. This spectacular trail is considered the most beautiful section between the towns. However, the walk is not easy and includes many ascents and descents. The path is beautiful and passes between the white beaches of Monterosso and up to the small bays in the town of Vernazza. The entire path runs alongside olive trees, vineyards, picturesque bridges and dramatic cliffs.
In the town of Monterosso it is recommended to visit the Church of San Francesco, this is an ancient church from 1632, located on top of a hill. The church overlooks a spectacular view of the town and the sea.
Another nice viewpoint you will find at Dawn Tower (Torre Aurora).
If time allows, you can take a train and reach the three additional villages: The village of Riomaggiore, "The Great River", named after the river that passed through the village and crossed it. Alternatively, you can reach the village by walking along the "Via dell'Amore" (Lovers' Lane) which passes right above the sea and provides a great view. Another town is Corniglia, considered a quieter and more picturesque town. Here there is no beach and therefore the village is also less touristic than the others. To get to the village you have to climb about forty winding stairs among the vineyards. The fifth and last town is Manarola known for its vineyards. The walking trail in the village is picturesque and pleasant as well, passing among lemon trees, bushes and flowers, parallel to the relaxing sea. In the town square, Piazza Capellini, you will find cafes, ice cream parlors, restaurants and small shops.

Trip to the cities of Pisa and Florence

If the weather does not allow a trip to the nature reserve, or if you fancy a different, more urban trip, it is recommended to tour the city of Pisa, where the most famous structure is of course the Leaning Tower and/or trip to beautiful Florence.

Guided tours to Pisa and Florence from La Spezia port:

 

Getting There:

For those arriving by cruise ship to La Spezia, here too, you can use the train and reach Pisa in an hour and 10 minutes. You should take into account a 20-minute walk from the train station to the Leaning Tower. Alternatively, you can book the guided tour I suggested earlier independently or join organized tours or bus shuttles offered by the ship. Trips through the ship are usually expensive and more crowded.

For those not arriving by cruise ship and staying in the area, it is recommended to combine a trip to Florence with a trip to Pisa (about an hour's drive) when staying overnight in Florence.

 

 

Piazza dei Miracoli - Square of Miracles

The central square in the city, where the famous tower is also located, is called Piazza dei Miracoli, Square of Miracles, also known as Cathedral Square, Piazza del Duomo. The square, designated in 1987 as a UNESCO World Heritage site, is considered one of the main art centers in the world during the Middle Ages.

Part of the square is paved and part is covered with grass, and it is known for four large-scale religious buildings:

· Leaning Tower of Pisa

 An independent bell tower that forms part of Pisa Cathedral (the Duomo). It stands behind the cathedral, and is considered the third oldest building after the Duomo and the Baptistery. Although it was supposed to be vertical, the tower began to lean toward the southeast shortly after its construction began in 1173, due to shaky foundations and unsuitable soil conditions, which caused the foundations to shift. Today the tower's inclination is toward the southwest.

The tower rises to a height of 55.86 meters from the ground on its low side and to a height of 56.70 meters on the high side. The wall thickness at the base of the tower is 4.09 meters, and at the top of the tower 2.48 meters. The weight of the tower is estimated at about 14,500 cubic tons.
The tower is open between 10:00-17:00. Admission and climbing to the top of the tower (about 296 steps) costs 18 euros. The price also includes a visit to the cathedral. It is recommended to book tickets in advance (then you will have to choose an exact time), especially if you arrive in the tourist season or alternatively purchase tickets upon your arrival to the square and after purchase walk around the area, until the climbing time scheduled for you.

 

· Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta

The heart of the square, a medieval cathedral. The cathedral was built starting from 1063. In 1595 a large fire broke out in the place which destroyed the medieval art works. Entrance to the cathedral is free.  

· Baptistery of St. John

 (Battistero di San Giovanni), dedicated to John the Baptist, stands opposite the western end of the Duomo. This round Romanesque building was built starting from the mid-12th century by the architect Diotisalvi ("God saves you"), who also worked on the Pisan version of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
This structure is considered one of the largest of its kind in Italy, and its circumference is 107.25 meters. If the height calculation includes the statue of John the Baptist, then the Baptistery is taller by a few centimeters than the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

 

· Camposanto Monumentale

 (Campo Santo monumentale - monumental cemetery) located at the northern end of the square. This area is a wall-surrounded cemetery, which is claimed to have been established around soil brought from Golgotha Hill during the Fourth Crusade by Ubaldo de' Lanfranchi, a 12th-century archbishop of Pisa.
In the past the cemetery had a large collection of Roman statues and sarcophagi, but today only 84 of them remain.

At the edge of the square is also the old Jewish cemetery, one of the oldest cemeteries in the world, in use since 1674.
If you wish to visit all the sites, or some of them, you can purchase a combined ticket.

 

Article by: O. E. Bar

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