Soggiorna
The village that closes the Gulf of Poets
Lerici occupies the eastern tip of the Gulf of Poets, facing Porto Venere on the opposite side of the bay. The town is dominated by the Castello di Lerici, a medieval fortress built by the Pisans and later expanded by the Genoese, which today houses a geopaleontological museum dedicated to the dinosaur footprints found in the area: from its bastions, one can overlook the entire gulf.
The center develops around the small harbor and the square by the sea, with colorful houses squeezed between the alleys and a seafront that connects the town to the nearby beaches.
San Terenzo and the literary myth
Just a few minutes' walk from Lerici is San Terenzo, a district with its own Genoese castle and a wide, sheltered beach. Here, the English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley stayed, who drowned in the gulf in 1822 near this coast: the connection with the English romantics (Shelley, Byron) is the origin of the name "Gulf of Poets" by which the entire bay is known, and even today Lerici maintains this literary atmosphere in the names of streets and local events.
Beaches and seaside life
Lerici and San Terenzo offer both equipped beaches and free stretches, with generally calm waters thanks to the natural protection of the gulf. The seafront promenade, illuminated in the evening, is the meeting point for aperitifs and dinner with a view of the illuminated castle.
How to get there
Lerici can be reached by bus from La Spezia (a few kilometers away) or by sea, with boat connections in the summer months linking Lerici, San Terenzo, Porto Venere, and the Cinque Terre — a convenient way to visit multiple villages in the gulf without moving the car.
Before you go
How long you need. Half a day for the centre and the small harbour; a full day if you add the climb to the castle and San Terenzo, a few minutes away on foot along the sea.
When to go. Summer is the season of the boats and of seaside life, but also the most crowded, with parking at its hardest. Spring and autumn remain excellent for the centre and the promenade, though sea connections are reduced or suspended.
Accessibility. The seafront and the walk between Lerici and San Terenzo are flat and easy. The castle is another matter: it stands on a promontory and the climb includes steps and steep stretches, so it should not be taken as accessible without checking first.
If it rains. The geo-palaeontological museum inside the castle is the indoor part of the visit; the promenade and the beaches lose most of their point.
To check before you leave: opening times, tickets and closing days of the castle and the museum; whether and when the boats to Porto Venere and the Cinque Terre are running, as they are seasonal; bus times from La Spezia, especially in the evening; parking rules and availability in high season.