Lerici — Golfo di La Spezia

About This Anchorage

Lerici is a classic Ligurian fishing town with a fine 13th-century castle (Castello di Lerici) overlooking the harbour. The town is historically associated with the Romantic poets — Shelley was sailing from here when he drowned in 1822 (aged 29); his final months in Lerici with Mary Shelley are commemorated at the Casa Magni in nearby San Terenzo. The Gulf of La Spezia provides excellent sailing conditions and shelter. Lerici marina has good facilities. The town's seafood restaurants, the Fiaschetteria wine bar culture, and the hiking to Tellaro (one of Italy's most beautiful villages) make this an excellent base.

Hazards

• !Levante / Scirocco (E–SE): The main wind hazard; creates swell in the gulf from E–SE; in sustained Scirocco above F5, the gulf gets uncomfortable
• !Naval exercise areas: La Spezia is Italy's main naval base — occasional exercise areas are declared in the gulf; listen to NAVTEX and Ch 16
• !Submarine cables: The gulf has submarine cables from the naval installations — anchoring restrictions may apply in some areas; check chart before dropping hook
• !Ferry wake from La Spezia: The La Spezia–Portovenere ferry creates significant wake in calm conditions

Skipper's Tips

• →The Shelley memorial at Casa Magni (San Terenzo, 1nm by dinghy) is small but touching — the plaque describes the circumstances of the poet's death
• →Tellaro village (3nm S) is extraordinarily beautiful — a tiny fishing village on the rocks with a church bell tower legend (an octopus rang the bells to warn of a Saracen attack); the dinghy approach through the rocks requires care
• →The Via dell'Amore (Love's Path) between Riomaggiore and Manarola in the Cinque Terre is 12nm W by sea — day trip by boat in settled conditions
• →Lerici's weekly market (Wednesday) has excellent local produce including olive oil from the Cinque Terre hills and local focaccia variations

Nearby Anchorages