The archaeological remains show that Sarzana was inhabited from the Neolithic period onwards, but the early history of the city is virtually unknown, and there are few sources of information.

Sarzana is first mentioned in a document of 965 by Emperor Otto III (980-1002), in which the “Castrum Sarzanae”, located where now stands the fortress of “Sarzanello”, was recognized as a possession of the Bishop of Luni; at this time Sarzana was mentioned as a simple castle, called the “Castrum de Sarzana”.

We also know that by the end of 13th century, it appeared as a walled village which included an ancient tower.

In another document dating from 1165, Emperor Frederick I (1122-1190) put the city under his special protection, removing it from the domain of the bishops of Luni, to which it was had long been subjected.

With the decline of Luni, Pope Innocent III (1160 approx.-1216) decreed a bishopric in Sarzana. After several changes of ownership between the bishops and the Marquis of Genoa, in 1316 Bishop Gherardino Malaspina (died 1321) appointed Castruccio Castracani (1281-1328) to be Viscount of the Sarzana Diocese, who dominated the city until his death.

After the return of the Pisani, Sarzana came under the domination of the Republic of Genoa (1438) and then to the Medici, who besieged the city in 1487, destroying the “Firmafede” fortress. This fortress was later rebuilt and actually called the Citadel.

Control of the area then returned to the Genoese, who governed the city until the conquest by Napoleon. In 1797 he entered Sarzana in the Ligurian Democratic Republic, naming it the capital of one of the three cantons of the Department of the Apennines.

In 1815, after the Congress of Vienna, its territory was included in the Kingdom of Sardinia, and from 1861 it became part of the Kingdom of Italy.

The small village of Lerici stands on the far eastern side of Liguria where the Golfo dei Poeti closes, facing the archipelago of Palmaria.  A jewel of the La Spezia coast, encased in a bay with a crystalline sea, it developed around the spectacular castle, built precipitous near the sea, on a hill that dominates the port area and the historical centre.

Mentioned by Dante in Canto III of Purgatory, Lerici has always been the favourite destination of artists, painters and writers who for centuries remained enchanted by the beauty of the village and its partial views.
The great romantic poets Byron and Shelley and the wife of the latter, Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, stayed in Lerici for a long time.  Shelley died during a sea storm as he was returning from Tuscany to the Ligurian village.

Cinque Terre is the name of a district that encompasses five glorious towns, where small houses are surrounded by lush nature. Visitors to this district will be fascinated by the beauty of these five small villages, namely: Manarola, Riomaggiore, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare.
The inhabitants of Cinque Terre benefite not only from its pristine waters, but from its natural environment, where wild nature is interspersed with vineyards, olive groves and citrus orchards, creating a precious bond between man, his traditions and this breathtaking stretch of coast.

Monterosso is in an ancient village located atop a hill, offering amazing panorams to all who venture here.
The main tourist attractions are the Old Castle, the Church of Saint John the Baptis,t and the Convent of the Capuchin.
The modern town stands at the foot of the Fenigia Hill, and boasts ruggedly beautiful beaches and natural areas. Finally, the Statue of Neptune, called the Giant, majestically guards the coastline from on high.

Riomaggiore is Cinque Terre’s most famous town, as well as the closest town to La Spezia.
This is the start the zone’s famous trekking route, dug into the rock in the early 20th century, and leading to Manarola where we have the famous Via dell’Amore or “Way of Love”. Another route not to be missed is the Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Trail), traversing the National Park of le Cinque Terre.

Vernazza features a picturesque small port, evidence of its ancient maritime traditions. The old town bears defensive structures, elegant architecture, decorative portals and elaborate colonnades running between the narrow lanes convergin on the main piazza, adjacent to the small port.
The Parish House of Saint Mary of Antioch, the Doria Castle and the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Reggio are Vernazza’s main tourist attractions.

Manarola is positioned at the top of a cliff that seems to tumble down into the sea; it is a fine example human manipulation of a harsh environment that is now made up of generous soil, terraces and vineyards and orchards.
Tourists can enjoy awe-inspiring landscapes from the Punta Bonfiglio headland, or from the churchyard of Sanctuary of Nostra Signora della Salute di Volastra’.

Corniglia is located on the top of a promontory, where the people produce excellent wines, such as the Cinque Terre DOC, the Pollenza, and the very well-known Sciacchetrà. The so-called Givano Beach, a famous nudists’ beach, lies below.

The picturesque town of Porto Venere, which rises on a peninsula diving into the sea, still today is considered a real “panoramic miracle” in the Gulf of La Spezia.

It is true when we say that Liguria contains an unending array of priceless treasures, in fact, Portovenere and the surrounding area has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage list, because it represents a cultural site of outstanding value, with the harmonious interaction between people and nature, which produce a landscape of exceptional quality.

In the past, Porto Venere was a notable maritime center since the Roman Age, and the ancient town developed in the area around San Pietro Church, presently Spallanzani Square, where there was a temple dedicated to Venus Ericina, from which it took its name. In 643 AC the town was destroyed by the Rotari, who extended the Lombard dominion as far as the Ligurian sea.

In the Middle Ages this suburb had a prosperous life, also because a great monastic movement arrived here, as it is demonstrated by the remains of a monastery on the Tino and Tinetto islands. After 1113, the area was controlled by the Genoese who contributed enormously to the architectural building of the maritime town, ordering the raising of three high towers, the walls encompassing the town, the characteristic row of fort-houses placed along the coast and strengthened for the military defense, and the town gate, making it a great stronghold and developing its military and marine potential.

During the long war against Pisa, Porto Venere was an unconquerable bastion of the Republic of Genoa, in fact the characteristic church of San Pietro on the cliff top was built by the Genoese as a gift for the decisive contribution of the local inhabitants in the conquest of Lerici. The “upper castle” was built by the Byzantines and resisted two Pisan sieges in 1165 and 1198; nowadays it is open to the visitors and used as an exhibition space for shows and cultural events. During the following centuries, the harbor of La Spezia began to gradually assert itself, and contributed in this way to the military decline of the Colony.