La Spezia, Italy

In the Liguria region of northern Italy, La Spezia is a modern city and important naval port that retains architectural elements of its long history, from the Genoese San Giorgio Castle, originally built in the 1200s, to the many Art Nouveau-style villas from the turn of the 20th century. About town, scoop up Italian staples like pesto, olive oil and cheeses at outdoor markets or opt for a trip to a vineyard for sips of the region's famed Rossese di Dolceacqua-a tangy red wine. This thriving port city on the Gulf of La Spezia is a prime jumping-off point for excursions to the beautiful Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprised of a group of five villages along a stretch of Italian coastline, where colorful hillside buildings are backdropped by vibrant mountains and fringed with the deep blue of the sea.

Language: Italian
Currency: Euro (EUR)