Near the Eastern end of the Italian Riviera lies the Gulf of La Spezia, or as it is more romantically called, the Bay of Poets, because Byron, Shelley and Keats played upon its shores, around the old fishing villages of San Terenzo, Fiascherino, and Lerici.

Lerici, now a picturesque resort, is an ideal location for exploring the pleasures of the Italian Riviera, which runs from the French border to the mouth of the Magra River.

From Lerici, you can take boats across the gulf to the Cinque Terre, five villages strung along the coast north of Portovenere. A leisurely walk between two or more of the villages along the footpath which connects them will provide some absolutely breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding mountains. The cliffs are terraced and planted with vineyards and vegetable gardens. It is easy to imagine what this area must have looked like two centuries ago, for the houses and terraces have not changed.