La Spezia

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Comune della Spezia
Municipal coat of arms
Country	Italy
Region	Liguria
Province	La Spezia (SP)
Mayor	Giorgio Pagano (since May 28, 2002)
Elevation	0 m
Area	51 km²
Population
- Total (as of December 31, 2004)	94,206
- Density	1,785/km²
Time zone	CET, UTC+1
Coordinates	44°06′N 09°49′E
Gentilic	Spezzini
Dialing code	0187
Postal code	19100, 19121-19126, 19131-19139
Frazioni	Biassa, Campiglia, La Foce, Pitelli, San Venerio, Sarbia
Patron	St. Joseph
- Day	March 19
Location of La Spezia in Italy
Website: www.comune.sp.it

La Spezia (Spèsa in the local dialect of Ligurian) is a city in the Liguria region of northern Italy, at the head of La Spezia Gulf, and capital city of the province of La Spezia.
It is one of the major Italian military and commercial harbours, located between Genoa and Pisa on the Ligurian Sea. La Spezia also hosts one of the biggest military industries of Italy, OTO Melara.

Contents 1 History 2 Main sights 2.1 Churches 2.2 Museums 2.3 Others 3 Events 4 Notable people 5 See also 6 External links

[edit] History

The area of La Spezia was settled since pre-historic times. In Roman times the most important centre was Luni.

[edit] Main sights

La Spezia is a point of departure for the Cinque Terre, either by train or boat. The boat also leads you to Lerici and Portovenere before turning into the open sea towards the Cinque Terre.

Both Lerici and Portovenere are reachable by public transport (15 km) from the central station of La Spezia.

Main landmarks of the city proper include:

[edit] Churches

• Cristo Re dei Secoli ("Christ the King of Centuries", cathedral), consecrated in 1975. The project was by Adalberto Libera.
• Abbey church of Santa Maria Assunta ("Our Lady of the Assumption", 13th century). It houses a considerable series of artworks, some of them coming from other suppressed religious institutes. They include an Incoronation of the Virgin by Andrea della Robbia, the Multiplication of Bread by Giovanni Battista Casoni and st. Bartholomew's Martyrdom by Luca Cambiaso.
• Santi Giovanni e Agostino ("Saints John and Augustine", 16th century). It has a single nave with 18th and 19th century decorations.

[edit] Museums

• "Ubaldo Formentini" - Civic Museum in the Castle of San Giorgio
• "Amedeo Lia" Museum
• Palazzina delle Arti and Museum of Seals
• Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (CAMeC)
• Diocesan Museum
• Ethnographic Civic Museum
• Technical Naval Museum
• National Transportation Museum

[edit] Others

• Castle of San Giorgio, recently restored. Probably originated from a watchtower, a first castle is known to have been built by Nicolò Fieschi in 1262. In 1273 the Genoese destroyed it, and a new fortification, along with a new line of walls, was erected by the podesteria of La Spezia from 1371. Annexed to this edifice, the Republic of Genoa added a new castle starting from 1607.
• Public Gardens
• Art Nouveau-style villas
• Futurist mosaic by Prampolini inside the Post Office

[edit] Events

• San Giuseppe, feast of the Patron Saint of the city, held on March 19.
• Palio del Golfo, on first Sunday in August.
• Cercantico, an antique fair, 1st Sunday of every month except July and August.

[edit] Notable people

• Alexia, singer
• Alessandro Petacchi, pro-cyclist
• Dario Vergassola, actor
• Giancarlo Giannini, actor
• Paolo Bertolani, poet
• Stefano Mei, athlete
• Giacinto Scelsi, composer

[edit] See also

• La Spezia-Rimini Line
• Spezia Calcio 1906
• Stadio Alberto Picco

[edit] External links

• A guide about La Spezia
• Satellite picture by Google Maps