The historical center: Marola, Canaletto, and Cadimare
Over the years, the historical center of La Spezia underwent proper transformations as the city was now one of the main historical bases of the Italian Navy.
The Romans had immediately understood the strategic position of this city as it appeared sheltered by the conformation of its territory and, during the Napoleon’s age, the intention to build here a strategic naval arsenal became clear. However, the construction works only took place during the 19th century.
La Spezia had been under the rule of the Genoese family of Fieschi and, in the historical nucleus of the city, you will find many features typical of Genoa, especially in the narrow carrugi (this is to say the narrow streets that are typical of Liguria), symbolizing its defensive past.
Once the naval base was finally finished, some of the main historical buildings and the colonnade along Via Chiodo appeared.
The village of Marola, probably of Roman origins, is located along the road from La Spezia to Portovenere. Multiple sources suggest that this area was initially an ancient docking place. Marola, in terms of Palio del Golfo victories, comes in 3rd position for total competitions won - the traditional regatta where 13 teams corresponding to 13 city districts or seaside villages across the Gulf compete in this stretch of sea in the first Sunday of August.
Canaletto is situated in the south-east part of the city. Canaletto, which in ancient times used to be a marshy area, takes its name from an old open-air canal. Today, thanks to the massive land reclamation operation, it hosts a residential district and one of the biggest city parks, Parco XXV Aprile.
Cadimare, located in the westernmost part of the gulf, is the last district of the Municipality of La Spezia. Cadimare is divided into two parts - one side is mostly coastal whereas the other is mostly hilly – and overlooks the sea, reason justifying the origin of its name (as Cadimare literally means “houses close to the sea”).
The Romans had immediately understood the strategic position of this city as it appeared sheltered by the conformation of its territory and, during the Napoleon’s age, the intention to build here a strategic naval arsenal became clear. However, the construction works only took place during the 19th century.
La Spezia had been under the rule of the Genoese family of Fieschi and, in the historical nucleus of the city, you will find many features typical of Genoa, especially in the narrow carrugi (this is to say the narrow streets that are typical of Liguria), symbolizing its defensive past.
Once the naval base was finally finished, some of the main historical buildings and the colonnade along Via Chiodo appeared.
The village of Marola, probably of Roman origins, is located along the road from La Spezia to Portovenere. Multiple sources suggest that this area was initially an ancient docking place. Marola, in terms of Palio del Golfo victories, comes in 3rd position for total competitions won - the traditional regatta where 13 teams corresponding to 13 city districts or seaside villages across the Gulf compete in this stretch of sea in the first Sunday of August.
Canaletto is situated in the south-east part of the city. Canaletto, which in ancient times used to be a marshy area, takes its name from an old open-air canal. Today, thanks to the massive land reclamation operation, it hosts a residential district and one of the biggest city parks, Parco XXV Aprile.
Cadimare, located in the westernmost part of the gulf, is the last district of the Municipality of La Spezia. Cadimare is divided into two parts - one side is mostly coastal whereas the other is mostly hilly – and overlooks the sea, reason justifying the origin of its name (as Cadimare literally means “houses close to the sea”).
Address
Centro Storico, La SpeziaInteresting facts
The Palio del Golfo is the traditional regatta where 13 teams corresponding to 13 city districts or seaside villages across the Gulf compete in this stretch of sea in the first Sunday of August. Marola was an ancient Roman settlement, as testified by the finds discovered in the past such as coins, glass bottles, and marble busts. In the past, the city district of Canaletto was called “Migliarina al mare” as it was the part of Migliarina closest to the sea. It then changed its name due to the many open-air canals that once crossed this area and that later were covered (as Canaletto literally means “little canal”). Cadimare owes its name to the little group of houses overlooking the sea.
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