The Italian city of La Spezia lies close to the Ligurian coast and one of this popular country’s most visited areas. As a result, millions of tourists make their way to and through La Spezia each and every year. Most come by railway, making La Spezia Centrale railway station a very busy place.
You can make your Italian trip easier on yourself by dropping off your belongings at a Bounce luggage storage service near La Spezia. By partnering with local businesses, Bounce makes sure you always have a place to store your things.
About La Spezia Centrale
The main station of La Spezia, Centrale or Central is located in the Piazza Medaglie d’Oro right in the city center. Located on the line that runs from Genoa to Pisa, La Spezia is an important station for the entire region.
Italy adopted rail travel early, and La Spezia Centrale first opened way back in 1887. In doing so, it rearranged the city it serves. In the late nineteenth century, the neighborhood the station was built in was still undergoing development. But once the station was complete, the center of the city shifted to this new area, making the station very much the heart of La Spezia.
La Spezia itself is home to a major naval base and is the second-largest city in the Liguria region. However, although the city seaside resorts are popular with Italian travelers, many international visitors pass through La Spezia on their way to the famous coastal towns of the Cinque Terre. Still, those who venture outside the station soon find themselves immersed in a fascinating Italian working town that presents a different side to the country than you’ll see in the tourist brochures.
Things to do near La Spezia Centrale
La Spezia is often eclipsed by the Cinque Terre, and it’s the presence of those five famous villages that bring a large portion of La Spezia’s visitors to the station. However, apart from those charming towns, La Spezia does have lots to offer visitors who want to get a deeper glimpse into Italian life.
- Learn about naval warfare at the Naval Technical Museum. La Spezia’s history as a naval base goes back to the era of Napoleon, and this museum commemorates that long history. You’ll find cannons, model ships, and impressive technology from modern battleships that helps to explain the evolution of war at sea.
- See the spiritual heart of this coastal town at the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta. Although this church was begun in the fifteenth century, it wasn’t fully complete until 1954. Its impressive interior is home to some beautiful paintings and is a great oasis of calm in the sometimes fast-paced city.
- Explore one of the city’s major landmarks at San Giorgio Castle. This imposing fortification dates back to the thirteenth century, but the site itself goes back to the Roman era. An on-site museum explains the shifting fortunes of the city and the region and the various powers that struggled for dominance here.
- Take an after-dinner stroll along the waterfront. A walk after dinner is a well-established tradition all over Italy, and on a sunny evening, the La Spezia Boardwalk functions almost as the city’s living room. It’s the perfect place to people watch and take in the atmosphere of the town while you enjoy the great Italian weather.
- See a more modern side of La Spezia at Ponte Thaon di Revel. This ruthlessly modern bridge stands in sharp contrast to the older buildings of the waterfront, but its sleek lines harmonize beautifully with more historic landmarks. Also, the views over the water from the bridge are not to be missed, especially at sunset.
Transit options in La Spezia Centrale
- The nearest airport to La Spezia is in Pisa, and trains run regularly between the two cities. It takes an hour and 15 minutes to make the journey.
- La Spezia is the place to catch regional trains to the villages of the Cinque Terre.
- Most of the town’s bus routes stop on Via Fiume just outside the station. This makes it easy to reach just about anywhere in the city.
Luggage storage near La Spezia Centrale
La Spezia is an underrated town that’s well worth exploring. However, the town itself and the station, in particular, can get extremely busy, especially during the summer months. The lighter you travel, the easier of a time you’ll have navigating the place. That’s why Bounce partners with local businesses to offer luggage storage wherever you are. Dropping off your bags at a luggage locker near La Spezia Centraleensures you’ll have one less thing to worry about while you travel.
Activities and attractions near La Spezia Centrale
- The charming seaside villages of the Cinque Terre are a National Park and one of the top tourist attractions in a country that has an incredible amount to offer. Each of the villages has its own train station that connects it to La Spezia Centrale. Plus, there’s a coastal path that connects all the villages and offers incredible views out over the Mediterranean. Great food, incredible scenery, and quaint charm draw millions of visitors to these five villages every year, and if you’re in La Spezia, you can’t miss the chance to see this enormously popular region for yourself.
- Get away from it all at the Parco Naturale Regionale di Porto Venere. This stunning natural park is home to an impressive castle and incredible views of the coastline. Plus, it’s generally far less busy than the Cinque Terre, making it ideal if you’ve had enough of crowds. The park also contains the islands of Tino and Tinetto, which are known for their impressive caves.
- See a lesser-known side of Italy in the village of Biassa. Just outside La Spezia, this tiny settlement of 650 people offers a glimpse of Italy almost untouched by tourism. With great views of the surrounding countryside and an unfinished castle to explore, it’s worth visiting on a market day to truly get a sense of rural life in the area.
