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Bay of La Spezia hotels, attractions, guide
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La Spezia hotels
Portovenere hotels
Lerici hotels
Online hotels reservations services for Bay of La Spezia
The Bay of La Spezia: Bay of Poets
Hotels in the Bay of La Spezia - La Spezia hotels
Ghironi Hotel is a smart four stars hotel in La Spezia, close to the motorway junction linking La Spezia with Cinque Terre, Genoa, Pisa.
The hotel has parking area and garage.
In the area you can enjoy boating and walking around the suggestive tracks in the spectacular scenery of the Bay of La Spezia and Cinque Terre, or day-trip to the archeological ruins of the ancient Luni and the marble quarries of Carrara.
The hotel has a garden, and is rather beautiful and elegant.
All rooms have en-suite bathroom with hairdryer, individually controlled air conditioning, desk with Internet and PC plug, videotape recorder, satellite and Pay TV, minibar, direct-line telephone, a complimentary daily newspaper, and are large and comfortable.
Overall opinion. People who stayed here have generally been happy with this hotel. Typical guests reviews:
"This hotel was very nice and provided a good breakfast. The train station is easily located about 5 minutes walk away, from where you can access all the towns of the Cinque Terre."
"We were very impressed with the Ghironi and all it's amenities. We will definitely stay there again on our next visit as well as suggest it to friends. Thank you."
General price range per room, including breakfast
Single rooms: 60 - 80 euros
Double rooms: 80 - 120 euros
Triple & quadruple rooms: 90 - 150 euros
Website: Ghironi Hotel in La Spezia
Hotel Mary is a three stars hotel in central La Spezia, near the railway station, not far from the port. The ambience is modern and comfortable.
The family-managed Mary Hotel has an American Bar, a breakfast room with standard service, and a pizzeria.
All 73 rooms have en-suite bathrooms, telephone, color TV, and optional air conditioning.
Typical guests' reviews:
"We were surprised to find that the Mary Hotel is right next to the train station. It said that in the reviews, but it turned out to be a huge convenience to us. The breakfast was superb, the crosants were fresh and flakey. The kids liked the tiny elevator, I took the stairs. It took a minute to figure out the air conditioning, but it was appreciated. This is a great place to stay if you need a place to land when you are on your way to the Cinque Terre."
"Suberb location for train and Cinque Terre (8 mins on train to Rio). Modern, clean, good-size rooms. Excellent shower, new air-con, comfy queen-size bed. Traffic noise blocked out well with windows closed. Good continental breakfast. Large lounge areas with TV & video downstairs too with video hire next door. Overall very comfortable 2 nights."
"The hotel was ideally situated for travelling by train up and down the coast from La Spezia and the staff were very helpful."
General price range per room
Single rooms: 40 - 50 euros
Double rooms: 80 - 100 euros
Triple & quadruple rooms: 100 - 150 euros
Website: Hotel Mary in La Spezia
Firenze e Continentale Hotel is an elegant three stars hotel in the very heart of La Spezia historic centre, in front of the Central Railway Station of La Spezia.
Built in the early 1900s, Hotel Firenze was completely refurbished but recreating the original atmosphere of that period through all details of the decorations, from wood panelling to marble floors, from brass lamps to wall paintings.
The hotel has a bar with an intimate and relaxed atmosphere, ideal to unwind with one of its famous cocktails; various halls, decorated with a touch of elegance, perfect for a rendezvous; and 2 separate conference rooms with sophisticated equipment, together accommodating over 100 people.
The hotel is ideally situated for visiting La Spezia and its well-known neighbours: Cinque Terre, Portovenere, Lerici, and so on, all of which are easily reached by car, railway, or ferry.
All 70 rooms (singles, doubles and suites) have central air conditioning, color TV, fridge, and direct dial phone, and are elegantly furnished.
Overall opinion. People who stayed here have consistently given this property high ratings on all aspects of their stay.
Some typical guests' reviews:
"The staff were friendly, competent and their English was great. They knew the area and could even give good advice about Pisa and other areas we were travelling to. I highly recommend this place to stay."
"Directly by the station."
"The location was very good. It was ideal for a single traveller. Good restaurants in the immediate facinity. I will return soon."
"The hotel was one of the better properties I stayed in in europe when you consider price, location, and facilities. It was an excellent base to explore the Cinque Terre. Less than a 5 minute walk from the train station and a nice train station neighborhood."
"V close to RS. Only 1 day stay with v early am departure. Ideal base for Cinque Terre exploration."
"Excellent location, with the station less than a minutes walk away. Ideal for using trains for exploring the Cinque Terre. Good breakfast with a superb view of the surrounding countryside."
"Beautiful hotel, building had character and rooms very spacious and clean. Dining room very pleasant with beautiful scenery."
"Excellent location close to the railway station and just a short walk from the city center. Large, clean and quiet rooms even if located towards a busy street. Recommended!"
"The room was very quiet and clean. Also, there was a nice view of the mountains. Location was perfect for me. The breakfast was delicious. The staff was very kind. I would like to stay again when I visit La Spezia."
"This hotel was recommended by a travel guide in America. We were very pleased with the accomdations. We had a lovely time in La Spezia and would have liked to have stayed longer."
General price range per room
Single, double, triple & quadruple rooms: 60 - 200 euros
First website: Firenze e Continentale Hotel in La Spezia
Second website: Firenze e Continentale Hotel in La Spezia
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Hotels in the Bay of La Spezia - Portovenere hotels
Royal Sporting Hotel is the height of luxury, a prestigious four stars hotel in Portovenere recommended by the Baedeker and other guidebooks of Italy.
Portovenere is a medieval sea village at the gateway to the Cinque Terre. This enchanting and naturally beautiful town dates back to the Roman era. The lovely view admired from the Church of San Pietro, located at the edge of the cliff, inspired great poets such as Shelley and Byron, who lived here and after whom the bay is named Bay of Poets (Golfo dei Poeti).
In this splendid environment is the Hotel Royal Sporting, directly overlooking the sea, in a quiet position only 10 minutes' walk from the historical center of Portovenere.
The Royal Sporting Hotel not only affords a holiday just by the clear sea waters of the bay, but is also close to the great art cities and towns of Tuscany: Florence is only about 120 kilometers away (75 miles), Pisa 70 kilometers and Lucca 60 kilometers.
The hotel offers its guests an outdoor swimming pool with purified sea water, with an ample solarium terrace, sun-lounge chairs and beach towels included in the service, and it offers direct access to its seafront private beach.
A small boat with sailor can be rented for excursions.
Breakfast can be served on the terrace at the edge of the swimming pool.
The hotel has a tennis court, a garden, ideal for reading and relaxing, a large hall, a bar, a restaurant, a conference hall. An Internet point is available on request.
All 60 rooms have en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, satellite TV, mini bar, direct-dial telephone.
Some rooms have terraces or balconies overlooking the breathtaking Bay of Poets, others have the relaxing view of the hotel's garden and tennis court.
Overall opinion. People who stayed here have generally given this property high ratings on all aspects of their stay. Some guests' reviews: "Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at the Royal Sporting in Portovenere. The people were fantastic. The only issue of contention is the dated quality of the facility. It has a feel of being in a different time, it would help if the room furniture and lobby were upgraded. Other than that, it was clean, located well and a great place to stay. Thank you!" "A beautiful hotel. Excellent service, and good food, in the restaurant. It's just a pity it rained for the 2 days I was in Porto Venere. And I don't really like single beds. Apart from that, no complaints whatsoever. I've already recommended your hotel to several friends in Melbourne who are planning trips (they're tired of me raving about Italy) to your wonderful country. Thanks for helping make my trip an unforgettable experience."
Prices are per room, and they include breakfast, half board or full board, according to your choice.
General price range per room
Single rooms, incl. breakfast, half board or full board: 100 - 200 euros
Double rooms, incl. breakfast, half board or full board: 150 - 300 euros
Website: Royal Sporting Hotel in Portovenere
Grand Hotel Portovenere is a four stars hotel directly overlooking the sea in Portovenere.
It is an ancient Franciscan monastery from the 1600s, just opposite the Palmaria Island and surrounded by enchanting views of the old village of Portovenere on the Bay of Poets.
The hotel's service is high quality. The restaurant has a magnificent panoramic terrace.
Rooms are elegant, refined, comfortable.
All 44 rooms and 10 suites have air conditioning, satellite television, direct dial telephone, minibar.
More than half of the rooms and suites have a splendid balcony overlooking the sea.
Overall opinion. Grand Hotel Portovenere gets very high ratings from guests who stayed here on every aspect of their stay, and surroundings and cleanliness of rooms received the highest possible ratings. Some guests' reviews: "Had a wonderful stay. We also enjoyed the restaurant very much." "Better explaination about travelling to the hotel would help, overall a wonderful experience." "Great hotel w/ friendly and helpful staff... would recommend this town for anyone visiting the Cinque Terre, a short drive away... truly relaxing, must get the view of the harbor." "Wonderful location in a great town in which to visit the Italian Riviera. Only shortcomings were: 1) Lack of availability of compass (sp?) hiking guide in English(!) 2) Jacuzzi not available. We would stay at this hotel again (and we will visit the area again)." "Imagine you are a seal, relaxing on the rocks, looking at one of the most beautiful views in the world, being treated extremely well and eating delicious food, all the while gaining a suntan. This is the best way to described our stay at the Grand Hotel in Porto Venere. It was superb and I have told all my friends they should visit. Make sure you pay extra for the sea view and ask for the 3rd floor rooms as they are slightly larger and have a huge window. The 4th floor rooms are also good, and have a balcony, yet they are slightly smaller." "Very welcoming staff. Great views. We wanted to stay another week!" "We asked for a room with balcony and view. Although the balcony was not big enough to sit out on, the view was spectacular. Portovenere is DEFINITELY more pleasant than Portofino - and The Grand Hotel provides incredible value in such a plush location. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!"
General price range per room, apartment or suite
Rooms: 80 - 200 euros
Suites & apartments: 180 - 330 euros
Website: Grand Hotel Portovenere in Portovenere
Hotel Della Baia is a three stars hotel in Le Grazie, an ancient village which is part of Portovenere, 7 km. from the major town of La Spezia.
The hotel, set in its own bay, an oasis of quietness, palms and boats, has a swimming pool, and free parking spaces.
Rooms are comfortable and elegant, each has its own style, enriched by paintings by famous artists.
All rooms have en-suite bathroom, air conditioning unit, PC and Internet jack, satellite TV, telephone, minibar, and disabled access.
Some rooms have hydromassage bath, some have large terraces with a panoramic view.
Prices are per room, and they include breakfast, half board or full board.
General price range
Single rooms: 70 - 130 euros
Double & twin rooms: 130 - 220 euros
Triple & quadruple rooms: 250 - 370 euros
Website:
Hotel Della Baia in Le Grazie, Portovenere
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Hotels in the Bay of La Spezia - Lerici hotels
Hotel Florida is a comfortable three stars hotel in Lerici, overlooking a beach on the Golfo dei Poeti (Bay of Poets), so called because Byron and Shelley
 lived here for a long time.
The Hotel Florida is directly overlooking the beach and commands an all-round view of the bay in all its splendour, with the Lerici Castle at one end.
The hotel has a solarium on the 5th floor.
All 37 well-furnished rooms have balcony, air conditioning, en-suite bathroom with hair-dryer, telephone (direct dialling), satellite TV and minibar.
Overall opinion. People who stayed here have given this property very high ratings on all aspects of their stay. A guest's review: "The property was very well located on the edge of the busier part of Lerici. The staff was very attentive and helpful often going out of their way to provide explanations and suggestions. A great place."
General price range per room
Single & double rooms: 100 - 150 euros
Triple rooms: 180 euros
Website: Hotel Florida in Lerici
Hotel Byron is a three stars hotel in Lerici right on the sea, in front of a beach, commanding a wonderful view of the Bay of Poets.
Open all year round, the hotel's facilities include a restaurant and a lift.
Rooms have en-suite bathroom, telephone, TV and minibar.
In the busiest periods of the summer, minimum stay may be 2 nights.
General price range per room
Single & double rooms: 100 - 150 euros
Website: Byron Hotel in Lerici
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Online hotels reservations services for Bay of La Spezia and Italy
To find and book accommodation in the Bay of La Spezia, the cheapest and least time-consuming way is by doing it via the internet.
Here below are some of the best online reservations services with hotels & other accommodation in Bay of La Spezia & Italy, which often have arranged special rates and discounts.
Venere
Venere - Hotels in Italy
Italian Tourist Web Guide
Italian Tourist Web Guide
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The Bay of La Spezia, Bay of Poets
The Bay of La Spezia takes its name from the city of La Spezia, a major Mediterranean port in Liguria, a region in the north-west of Italy. Liguria can best be represented as a relatively narrow strip of land, in the shape of an arch, squashed between the hills of the Ligurian Appennines, covered in olive groves and Mediterranean vegetation, and the sea. Genoa is the capital of Liguria.
This region is sometimes known in English as the Italian Riviera, because it forms the natural continuation of the French Riviera, the Cote d'Azur. Nice and surrounding area were in fact part of Italy until the 19th century.
Liguria has two Rivieras: Riviera di Ponente (west of Genoa up to the French border)
and Riviera di Levante (east of Genoa).
La Spezia is in the Levante Riviera, between Genoa and Tuscany, in close proximity to the Cinque Terre district.
The Bay of La Spezia (Golfo della Spezia in Italian) is also called the Bay of Poets, or Golfo dei Poeti, because the 19th-century English romantic poets Byron and Shelley lived here long, finding inspiration in the amazing beauty of the scenery.
La Spezia is one of the largest and safest natural harbours of the Mediterranean. Its Naval Arsenal is the largest in Italy, with an important shipyard and an interesting Shipping Museum. La Spezia has a beautiful palm-fringed seafront promenade, and the surrounding hills offer magnificent views.
The other two main towns, apart from La Spezia itself, are Portovenere and Lerici, at the opposite ends of the Bay.
The ancient fortified town of Portovenere, at the extreme south end of the Cinque Terre coast, is an old-world little port, with narrow alleyways and pastel-coloured harbour cottages. It's picturesquely situated on La Bocchetta, a narrow strait between a promontory and the island Palmaria, which lies just in front of the town. In Portovenere are important Roman ruins, including a Roman villa. From the little church of San Pietro, at the southern tip of the promontory, there are charming views of the precipituous cliff of the Cinque Terre and the Bay of Lerici. Above the church is an ancient Genoese castle, dating back to the times when Geona was a great Naval Republic.
On the other side of the Bay of La Spezia is Lerici, with its well preserved 12th century castle looking down from the top of a cliff onto the Bay of Poets. Lerici was already an established port in The Middle Ages. You can admire there the Romanesque campanile of the church of San Rocco.
In this area, and indeed in many parts of the Liguria
region, the steep hills end where the seashore starts. There is not much
room left between sea and mountains for agriculture, which is why vineyards are grown on the slopes of the hills, according to a system called a
terrazza, arranged in terraces stepping down to the sea.
You can travel there by train, or by car on the highway, which runs high along the coast following the ancient Roman road Via Aurelia and is free, or on the Genova-Livorno motorway A12, for which you have to pay a toll. The scenery from either is spectacular, affording amazing views over the Ligurian Riviera from the heights of viaducts in and out of road tunnels. The A12 autostrada Genova-Livorno has been called, not without justification, the most beautiful motorway in the world. From the road you can see the Cinque Terre and the Bay of La Spezia from above.
There are regular boat services in the summer from Viareggio, a seaside resort in Versilia, just north of Pisa. The boat goes to Cinque Terre and stops in Portovenere.
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Bay of La Spezia, Italy: hotels, attractions & practicalities
The Bay of La Spezia (Golfo della Spezia in Italian) is also called the Bay of Poets, or Golfo dei Poeti, because the 19th-century English romantic poets Byron and Shelley lived here long, finding inspiration in the amazing beauty of the scenery.
