La Spezia  lies in the heart of the Gulf of Poets. Originally a fishing village, it soon became an alternative stronghold to Genoa. It is a city with numerous historic buildings, many museums, churches and public gardens, whose 19th-century arcades are home to typical shops and boutiques. From the Passeggiata Morin, on the seafront, you will have a splendid view of the Gulf of Poets. Boats depart from the quay for Portovenere, the Cinque Terre and Lerici. Worth visiting are the Castle of San Giorgio, the Church of Santa Maria Assunta and the Lia Museum, as well as the Naval Museum.