What to do in Lerici, Liguria

Lerici is a town in the Northern region of Liguria. It is only 40 minutes from the colored villages of Cinque Terre and 15 minutes from the gorgeous hamlet of Tellaro. A vibrant port town, Lerici has many things to do and see such as an ancient castle, a great harbor and a beach. It is situated in the Gulf of Poets which happens to be the place where the famous English poet Percy Shelley drowned in! Shelley’s home, Villa Magni, is only 10 minutes from Lerici.

What to do in Lerici

1. Admire Gulf Of Poets:

Lerici is on the Gulf of Poets and is stunning rain or shine. From the town you can even see as far as Portovenere on the other side, a gorgeous and unmissable sight. Lerici reminds me a little of the city of Trieste because it also overlooks the sea.

Vibrant homes in Lerici

Overlooking Lerici

2. Visit Castello di Lerici:

Castello di Lerici or the Lerici Castle is the town’s highlight. It stands old and forgotten on one side of a cliff. This 12th century castle was built by the Genovese and is a 5-7 minute walk from the centre of town. In Winter time, it is usually closed to visitors but in the summer the castle is in it’s glory and open from 9am-5pm.

Castle of Lerici

3. Walk in the many Caruggi:

If you are in the region of Liguria, small streets are usually known by the term “Caruggi”. Lerici has several tiny colorful caruggi worth venturing to. Don’t miss the countless restaurants by the seaside and the delicious artisan gelaterie in the narrow caruggi.

4. Take Day Trips to Fiascherino, Sarzana & Tellaro:

Another fabulous thing you can do here is to visit the surrounding smaller hidden hamlets and port towns. The hamlets of Sarazana and Tellaro are close by as is the Bay of Fiascherino. For more information on Tellaro, read this post that I wrote last week. 

Where to Eat in Lerici:

Casalini Puntocaldo: Hot piping Focaccia and biscotti are to die for!

Lerici Bistrot: A great place for a delicious seafood buffet. Great service!

Bar Costa: Anything from a caffe or a spritz is available in this old school bar with a view of the harbour.

Bar Il Pontile: Spritz is at a steep €7 but the view of the sea is priceless especially if you’re on a vacation.

Il Frontoio: Their antipasto al mare is fabulous as is their enthusiastic staff.

How to Reach Lerici:

Lerici has no train station so it is best to take a train till La Spezia station and then a direct bus. Buses run every 30 minutes. In the summer (until September), there are regular ferry services from Cinque Terre & Portovenere to reach Lerici.

Lerici is a small Italian town where you can spend several days together. It is the perfect place to soak in the slow life in Italy and have a gelato or two. Being close to several other lesser known Ligurian villages, it makes it an excellent base for day trips and is cheap to stay in too!

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Explore the area around Lerici: