A colorful hillside village perched on rocky cliffs above clear turquoise sea, with small boats floating in the harbor and terraced green slopes rising behind.

La Spezia, Italy

Cruises to La Spezia (Florence)

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Things to do in La Spezia

Set between land and sea, La Spezia connects travelers to Tuscany and the rugged Ligurian coastline. Once a fishing village, now a solid naval base town that’s still refreshingly low‑key, it offers historic lanes, trattorias where local cuisine rules and stunning seaside vistas facing Cinque Terre. It’s first‑stop Italy that delivers everything you hoped Italy would be.

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  • A fortress built of rough gray stone with rounded towers and small windows, sitting on a raised stone terrace with plants and a paved walkway in front under a bright blue sky.

    Dive into Italian naval heritage at the local naval museum and climb up to San Giorgio Castle for broad Gulf of La Spezia views.

  • The Ponte Vecchio bridge in Florence with colorful buildings built along it, viewed from a covered stone walkway lined with repeating arches beside the river.

    Visit Florence’s Duomo, Baptistery and Ponte Vecchio via coach from La Spezia — art‑rich and iconic.

  • The Leaning Tower of Pisa tilted noticeably to one side next to the white marble Pisa Cathedral, with a grassy plaza and visitors walking around on a sunny day.

    Snap a ridiculous perspective-trick photo (you know the kind we mean) by Pisa’s Leaning Tower at the Field of Miracles, then grab a gelato to celebrate crossing that particular item off your bucket list.

  • A cluster of colorful buildings perched on steep cliffs above clear blue sea, with rocky coves, a small harbor and cactus plants in the foreground under a sunny sky.

    Walk or ferry into the Ligurian coastline’s charm: Cinque Terre’s terraced villages and pastel houses rise from the sea and invite spontaneous exploration.

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Shore excursions to explore in La Spezia

Curated tours in La Spezia serve up history, art, culinary depth and endless vistas — pick your trail, strap on sensible shoes and let the day deliver.

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  • A grove of mature olive trees with silvery leaves casting dappled shade over a grassy path, beside an old stone wall under clear daylight.

    Cinque Terre Panoramic Drive by open-top bus & Wine Tasting

    No, you won’t walk Cinque Terre; you’ll glide above it in an open-top bus, snapping overhead shots of olive groves, vineyards and cliff-clinging villages. Then it’s on to Cantina Cinque Terre, a wine co-op with serious preservation cred and even better pours. Expect crisp whites, local bites and a story behind every stone terrace.

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  • A view through the Uffizi Gallery’s columned courtyard toward the tall brick tower of Palazzo Vecchio, with warm stone architecture and a blue sky above.

    Ultimate Florence & Pisa

    This is the greatest hits album of Tuscany. It’s a full-day sprint through Florence’s big names (Duomo, David, Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio), topped with a Tuscan lunch and a swing through Pisa to gaze at its infamous tilt. Expect walking, wonder and the occasional “wait, is that the statue?” moment.

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  • A small coil of uncooked handmade pasta dusted with flour on a wooden surface.

    Local Connections: Tuscany Farmhouse Experience with Farmers Davide And Francesca

    Get rural. A horse-drawn carriage takes you to Davide and Francesca’s picture-perfect farm where you'll tour truffle patches, veggie plots and olive groves, before diving into a Tuscan feast starring homemade pasta, Vin Santo and almond biscotti. Warning: you may feel a nearly irresistible urge to move in.

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  • A hilltop village in Tuscany with stone buildings and a tall brick tower, surrounded by green trees and olive groves under a blue sky with wispy clouds.

    Tuscan Countryside & wine tasting

    Spend your day channeling your inner noble peasant. Visit a tiny hilltop village — either Montecarlo di Lucca or Lari — where stone alleys echo with history and espresso orders. Then head to a local wine cellar for tastings that may or may not (but probably will) lead to bouts of unbridled enjoyment. Scenic doesn’t even begin to cover it.

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  • Rows of tall, colorful buildings with green shutters line a lively waterfront, where people relax at outdoor café tables under striped umbrellas, near the rocky shore.

    Gulf of the poets by land & sea: Fishing villages of  Lerici and Portovenere

    Travel through living poetry, basically. Start with Lerici (seaside views, tight alleys and a castle just sort of nonchalantly hanging out above it all) then cruise to Portovenere, where your guide leads a walk through pastel facades and a centuries-old church with front-row sea views. You’ll see why Byron wouldn’t shut up about it.

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  • The Leaning Tower of Pisa rising at an angle beside a lawn and surrounding historic buildings, shown at sunset with soft pastel clouds overhead.

    Leaning Tower of Pisa

    Here’s your moment to hold up the Tower of Pisa (thanks to the magic of perspective tricks). After a quick coach ride and a short walk, you’ll land in Piazza dei Miracoli with 60 glorious minutes to explore the Duomo, Baptistery and Leaning Tower. Take the photos, dodge the crowds try not to fall over yourself doing the pose. Here’s to gravity doing a questionable job since 1173.

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Explore all La Spezia shore excursions

Explore itineraries with cruises to La Spezia (Florence)

When you book cruises to La Spezia, you’re signing up for an experience that is pure Italy: it’s the back door into Tuscany, the scenic route to Cinque Terre and a stop with serious shore access to the Cradle of the Renaissance. The port sits right at the edge of town, with cafes, markets and the naval museum just a walk away. If you’ve got time, climb up to San Giorgio Castle or hop transport to a fishing village nearby. For Mediterranean and European itineraries, La Spezia is a can’t-miss.

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Beautiful Oia village on Santorini island in Greece

7-Day Western Mediterranean with Italy

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Cape Drastis - Corfu, Greece

14-Day Western Mediterranean with Greece & Italy

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Piza Tower, Italy

18-Day The Best of the Mediterranean

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Discover La Spezia on your next cruise

With its tight alleyways, open seas and access to Florence’s entire art collection, La Spezia cruises serve up variety on a ridiculous scale. From capturing the coastal drama of Cinque Terre to taking in the Uffizi’s Renaissance masterpieces, this port delivers the best of Ligurian and Tuscan culture. Princess Cruises brings you there with zero stress, built-in transport options and a ship to crawl back to when your legs tap out.

Cruise to La Spezia
A close view of the red-tiled dome of Florence’s Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, with intricate marble patterns on the walls and the city stretching out below under a clear blue sky.

Climb above Florence to take in Brunelleschi’s iconic dome glowing in the Tuscan sun.

A narrow cobblestone street in Florence with old stone buildings, hanging lanterns and potted plants, a bicycle leaning against a wall and a couple walking in the distance.

Wander a sunlit side street in Florence where history and everyday life meet.

A smiling couple stands at the railing of a Princess® cruise ship, enjoying the open sea and blue sky.

A couple stands together on the wooden deck of a Princess® cruise ship, gazing out at the open sea beneath a bright blue sky dotted with clouds.

Front-facing view of a Princess® cruise ship sailing through calm ocean waters.

Cut through the world’s waterways and experience the planet’s most exciting coastlines from a sea-side perspective; our fleet is your luxury-and-entertainment-packed transport to adventure.

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Step aboard any Princess® ship and discover your new favorite way to travel. Each vessel is a floating playground of flavor, comfort and top-deck experiences. Enjoy freshly prepared local dishes, Broadway-caliber entertainment, oceanview fitness and wellness studios, family programming and beds so comfortable they’ve won awards. 


No two ships are identical, but they all share one mission: turn your vacation into a standing ovation.

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Cruises to La Spezia FAQs

*The port location is subject to change. Please check itinerary details after you book for more information.

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