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La Spezia
One of the four provinces of the northern Italian region of Liguria, La Spezia is a seaside city located between Genoa and Pisa on the Ligurian Sea.
Locals, known as Spezzini, are proud of the city’s repuation as one of the major Italian military and commercial harbours as it plays host to a scenic landscape that pitts the blue waters with the soaring mountains.
This seascape influenced the livelihood and cusine of the Spezzini, who with their wooden boats towed fishing grounds of anchovies, renowned for their special flavor. When the catch was ample the fish were salted, packed in barrels and preserved. Otherwise the women would fill their baskets and set off on foot through the hills to sell the fish to neighboring villages.
The mild climate in La Spezia brought about abundant agricultural produce and a treasure trove of gastronomical riches such as wine, oil, and sweet chestnut, and the mushrooms that grew below ground.
Within the city proper, visitors are invited to enter the Cristo Re dei Secoli Cathedral (Christ the King of Centuries) and view the breaktaking religious art and architecture as well of the more ancient Abbey church of Santa Maria Assunta (Our Lady of the Assumption). The city’s patron saint is San Giuseppe, whose feast day is held annually on March 19, welcoming the festivities.
History enthusiasts wanting a taste of life in the middle ages may visited the recently restored heritage site, Castle of San Giorgio. Although most likely having as a fort or watchtower, this is the first castle known to have been built by Nicolò Fieschi in 1262. Nearly a decade later, after destruction by the Genoese, new walls were erected by the podesteria of La Spezia from 1371. And centuries after, the Republic of Genoa added a new castle to the San Giorgio fort starting from 1607.
