La Spezia and its surroundings
Portovenere:
This picturesque village sits at the most western tip of the Gulf of La Spezia enhancing the headland with its beauty. A small stretch of water separates the village from the three islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto. A characteristic walkway leads you to the stunningly located church of St Peter which is constructed from the same rock as the headland such that it blends harmoniously with the landscape to create an architectural wonder that is unique in the world. The church was built by the Genoans from 1256 to 1277 on the ruins of an ancient paleochristian church.
Le Cinque Terre (The Five Lands):
The Cinque Terre lies on a stretch of coast between Point Monternero and Point Mesco and includes the five villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso.
Thanks to its characteristic geographical location Le Cinque Terre is one of the most attractive tourist destinations of the La Spezia Riviera.
The distinctive natural landscape with its hilly and harsh features are softened by the cultivated terraces that flow steeply towards the sea, providing the most dramatic and fascinating scenery of Liguria. The region is famous for its wine, a local speciality is "Sciacchetra" which is a sweet liqueur derived from the juice of dried grapes. The natural beauty of the area attracts millions of tourists from worldwide destinations each year. In 1997 the Cinque Terre, Portovenere and the three islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto were world heritage listed by UNESCO. These locations are easily and quickly reachable by train or ferry from La Spezia. The train station is only 400 metres from the hotel and the ferry terminal is 1 km from the hotel.