La Spezia

La Spezia is located at the head of the Gulf of La Spezia in northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of La Spezia. Not only is it a bustling city, but it is also the home to Italy’s largest naval base. Students taking Italian courses in La Spezia may find the area inspiring....

La Spezia is located at the head of the Gulf of La Spezia in northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of La Spezia. Not only is it a bustling city, but it is also the home to Italy’s largest naval base. Students taking Italian courses in La Spezia may find the area inspiring. The Gulf of La Spezia is also referred to as the Gulf of Poets, as it drew the likes of Byron, Dante, Shelley seeking to be inspired by the beauty along the shores of the gulf. The area has been settled since pre-historic times, but experienced a heightened growth period in the second half of the 19th century. Home to a renowned fine arts museum, students enrolled in Italian school in La Spezia should be sure to make time to visit the Museo Amedeo Lia. This museum is housed in a restored 17th century friary. It includes art from the 13th to 18th centuries with many paintings from some of the masters. It also offers a variety of other treasured pieces. The weather in La Spezia is what one would expect from a typical Mediterranean climate. Visitors can expect hot summers and relatively warm winters with rainy autumns and springs. The city has some casual nightlife spots with both bars and cafes hosting a youthful crowd most nights. Students studying in La Spezia will enjoy exploring both the old and new aspects of this harbor city. With a variety of museums to explore, along with an interesting market place to give visitors the true feel of Italy, students will find there is much to enjoy.