Top indoor attractions in La Spezia for rainy days

Rainy days in La Spezia can quickly dampen travel plans, especially when you're unprepared. Over 30% of visitors to this coastal gem face unexpected weather disruptions, leaving families and solo travelers scrambling for alternatives. The frustration of canceled hikes and soggy coastline walks is real—but La Spezia holds a wealth of indoor treasures most tourists overlook. From maritime history hubs to artisan workshops tucked in medieval alleys, the city offers rich cultural experiences away from the crowds. This guide reveals how to transform a washed-out day into an opportunity to connect with Liguria's authentic heritage, all while staying comfortably dry.

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Navigating the Naval Museum's hidden highlights

The Technical Naval Museum often gets overlooked for flashier attractions, but its four floors house fascinating artifacts that bring maritime history to life. What most visitors miss are the interactive torpedo exhibits and the chance to climb aboard a real WWII submarine moored outside—a particularly thrilling experience for kids. Time your visit for 11am or 3pm to catch the rarely advertised guided tours in English. The museum's clever layout means you can easily spend two immersive hours following the evolution of naval engineering, with special attention to La Spezia's strategic role. Don't rush past the third floor's collection of intricate ship models—each tells a story of Ligurian craftsmanship.

The artisan workshops of Via del Prione

La Spezia's main shopping street transforms into a cultural sanctuary when rain falls. Peer beyond the standard storefronts to discover family-run botteghe where artisans welcome observers. At Laboratorio Morseletto, fifth-generation marble workers demonstrate how Carrara stone gets transformed into sculptures—feel free to ask about their restoration work on local monuments. Further down the street, the tiny bookbinding studio Legatoria Moderna preserves the nearly lost art of handmade journals using techniques unchanged since the 1800s. These workshops offer more than shopping; they provide shelter from the rain while connecting you to living traditions. Many artisans speak enough English to explain their processes, and there's no pressure to purchase.

A meal and a show at Enoteca Regionale

This wine library doubles as La Spezia's most delicious weather contingency plan. Rather than just tasting Ligurian wines, you can pair them with hands-on pasta making classes held in the vaulted basement. The three-hour experience begins with selecting ingredients from their 'wall of wines' before learning to craft traditional trofie pasta from a local nonna. What makes this special is the intimate setting—classes cap at eight people—and the insider knowledge about Cinque Terre vineyards you won't find in guidebooks. Even if you don't join a class, their encyclopedic wine-by-the-glass menu makes for an educational afternoon. Arrive by 12:30pm to secure one of the four window tables overlooking Piazza Cesare Battisti's rainy charm.

Castle secrets at the Museo Amedeo Lia

Housed in a converted 17th-century monastery, this museum's collection of medieval art becomes exponentially more interesting when you know where to look. The real magic lies in the building itself—ask staff about accessing the normally closed loggia for panoramic views over the harbor, especially atmospheric when storm clouds gather. Their 'Art Detective' program (included with admission) turns the galleries into an interactive challenge perfect for families, with clues leading to hidden details in Renaissance paintings. Thursday afternoons often find the museum nearly empty, allowing quiet contemplation of their exceptional illuminated manuscripts. Pro tip: the courtyard café serves exceptional hot chocolate using a recipe from a 1920s local chocolatier.