Lerici

The relative privacy of La Spezia has, over the years, drawn a crowd of philosophers, writers, and poets, from Dante to Shelley and Byron, earning it the nickname Golfo dei Poeti, the Bay of Poets.

The landscape certainly inspires creativity, from the waterfront piazza with its trompe-l'oeil frescoed buildings to the charming seaside cafés lining the harbour.

Yachts and gozzi, the typical small fishing boats of the area, jostle for space. The medieval fishing village is dominated by the castle. Built during the 11th century on a rocky promontory, it towers above the port.

Head along Via Roma during a yacht charter in La Spezia, where you can dip into the many boutiques selling traditional Italian goods and high fashion. The Gothic chapel Sant Anastasio at the top of the castle offers stunning views across the Riviera and the Golfo dei Poeti. If you are travelling with children, a morning spent at the Castello di Lerici’s Museo Geopaleontologico will enthral little ones, who will marvel at life-size dinosaurs and can experience a simulated earthquake.

Lerici is the ideal location for an Italian Riviera yacht charter where you can enjoy natural beauty, culture, and gastronomy at its finest.