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Lerici Castle

The Genoese fortress above the Gulf of Poets, with a Gothic chapel and a terrace over the bay.

  • Lerici
  • Castle
Plan your visit
Where
Lerici
Best for
Genoese fortress
Allow
1 hr 15 min
Best time
Late afternoon, for the light over the gulf
Tickets
From €6
Checked January 2024

Lerici Castle rises on a rock above the harbor of the Gulf of Poets, the natural sea inlet that has drawn Shelley and Byron. Genoa bought Lerici in 1152 and held it against Pisa, which controlled it from 1241 until Genoa retook it in 1256.

Its present pentagonal form dates from a rebuild in 1555 by the Genoese Office of San Giorgio. Inside is the Chapel of Santa Anastasia, a small Gothic room in black-and-white stripes of stone typical of Genoese and Pisan work of the thirteenth century. The castle also hosts art exhibitions and, from its battlements and terrace, opens the gulf and the islands of Palmaria and Tino. A lift from the waterfront saves the climb.

Four things worth finding

If you see nothing else, see these.

  1. The Chapel of Santa Anastasia13th-century Genoese Gothic

    A small Gothic room with cross vaults and the black-and-white stone banding typical of Genoese and Pisan work.First floor

  2. The pentagonal fortressRebuilt in 1555 by the Office of San Giorgio

    A plaque above the entrance portal records the 1555 rebuild that gave the castle its present shape.Castle exterior

  3. The panoramic terrace and battlementsTerrace over the Gulf of Poets

    From the battlements the gulf opens out with the islands of Palmaria and Tino in view.Top of the castle

  4. The art exhibitionsRotating shows

    The castle works as a venue for art shows, so the rooms are often put to a second use.Inside the castle

Plan your visit

Everything you need before you go.

Tickets
From €6
Booking
No booking needed
Time needed
1 hr 15 min
Best time
Late afternoon, for the light over the gulf
Getting there
The castle is on the promontory above Lerici’s harbor, a short uphill walk from the seafront; a lift from the San Giorgio gallery at Calata Mazzini saves the climb. Lerici is reached by bus or boat from La Spezia, and by car from the A12 (Sarzana or La Spezia exits). Parking in the town is tight.
Accessibility
A lift runs from the seafront gallery at Calata Mazzini to the castle. The battlements and chapel have steps.

Reduced €3 for over-65s and students. Free for Lerici residents and visitors with disabilities. Last updated January 2024. Prices change, so check the official site before you go.

Time your visit for the hour before sunset, then walk the seafront to San Terenzo, where Shelley lived, for dinner with the same view.

Official website
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Good to know

How long should you spend at Lerici Castle?

About an hour and a quarter is enough for the chapel, the rooms, the terrace and the battlements. Add time if an exhibition catches your eye.

How do you get up to Lerici Castle?

It stands on the promontory above the harbor, a steep climb from the seafront, but a lift from the San Giorgio gallery at Calata Mazzini saves the effort.

Can you see Lerici Castle and Portovenere in one day?

Yes. Lerici and Portovenere face each other across the Gulf of Poets, and in season you can link them with a boat, which gives you a seaward view of both castles.

More to see nearby

Same city first, then the nearest across the region.

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