Car & Van Hire - La Spezia

La Spezia's history is intertwined with its position as a port city. The best way to start your exploration is by taking a stroll along the waterfront. La Spezia is still a significant port today, and walking beside the water will give you some of its best views. The shady, tree-lined Passeggiata Costantino Morin is a picturesque waterside walk where locals often come. While in the port area, you can stop at the Naval Technical Museum. This is a family-friendly museum with a range of exhibitions that explain the history of the Italian navy.

One of La Spezia's most interesting landmarks is the Castello San Giorgio. Originally built in 1292, this castle was destroyed and rebuilt many times during the region's war-torn past. It was once an important part of the city's defensive network and today is home to an archaeological museum. Inside, you'll find exhibits dating even further back than the days of the Roman Empire. Just walking around the castle, with its imposing turrets and 14th-century arrow slits, is enough to spark the imagination.

La Spezia is the gateway to the Cinque Terre, easily accessible by car. These five villages have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With their colourful houses perched high on hilltops, these villages are an absolute treat. They're also one of the best places to indulge in the local cuisine, including seafood, focaccia and freshly pounded pesto.

Your car rental in La Spezia is a wonderful way to explore the surrounding region. One of the best spots for a day trip is Pisa, where the main attraction is the world-famous Leaning Tower. There are also a number of stunning old buildings, including the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the Battistero di San Giovanni. The city has some of Italy's finest museums and is also a great spot for visitors who just want to enjoy a riverside walk.

It takes about an hour and a half to drive to Florence, another excellent choice for visiting with a car or van rental in La Spezia. This is a dreamy, romantic city that has left visitors spellbound for hundreds of years. The legendary Uffizi Gallery, the medieval Ponte Vecchio across the river and the incredible cathedral are just a few of the city's wealth of attractions. Home to masterpieces like Michelangelo's David and Botticelli's Birth of Venus, Florence is heaven for art lovers.

Like most Italian cities, La Spezia has a ZTL, a limited traffic zone in its centre. Vehicles can only enter the ZTL with a permit. Cameras watch the entrances to the ZTL, and you will be fined for driving into it without permission. In La Spezia, the ZTL mostly covers the area close to the waterfront. However, it also stretches down the long, pedestrianised shopping street of Via de Prione. The ZTL in La Spezia is in effect 24 hours a day, and even motorbikes and scooters require permission to enter.

Visitors to Italy should familiarise themselves with the sign that marks the boundary of a ZTL, a white circle surrounded by a red ring. You will find ZTLs in almost every city you visit, as well as historically significant towns and villages.

If you are looking for a parking space in La Spezia, you have a few different options. There is on-street parking, often controlled by meters, and you can also go to a large car park. Many visitors leave their car in La Spezia and then go to the Cinque Terre by train, so the car park at the train station tends to fill up quickly. A better option is the new underground car park at Piazza Europa. This will leave you close to the city centre, making it easy for you to get around on foot.

The area of the Cinque Terre can be reached by car. Indeed, driving through the hillside roads is absolutely beautiful, and many regard it as one of the most picturesque drives in Italy. The coastal road above the villages is generally wide and comfortable, but you will need to take care on the narrow winding roads that lead to each village. The centre of each village is a ZTL, but there are always car parks near the entrances.

When parking in Italy, look at the colour of the lines. Parking spaces marked by blue lines are pay and display, while those with white lines are free. In some areas, such as the Cinque Terre, you will also see parking spaces marked by yellow lines. These are only for use by residents.

It's important for visitors to Italy to remember the law regarding headlights. When driving outside urban areas, you are obliged to keep your headlights on at all times of the day. Inside cities, you can choose to turn them off if you prefer, but don't be surprised if you see many drivers keeping them on.