Vezzano Ligure
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By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 30 December 2023
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The hill town of Vezzano Ligure is situated within the Province of La Spezia in the northern region of Liguria and stands at an elevation of 271 metres above sea level. It's an official municipality which had a population of 7,237 on 1 January 2022.
The comune covers a total geographical area of 18 square kilometres and lies 97 kilometres south east of Genoa. |
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Multi-coloured Cluster of Buildings
Despite its modest dimensions, Vezzano Ligure is extraordinarily pretty with its multi-coloured buildings clustered together on a hill. It's not a place that's particularly well publicised either; I myself only saw it by chance as I was refuelling my car at a service station on the A10/E80 motorway. I looked up and saw this beautiful splash of colour set against the backdrop of the hills and decided to go and explore.
Vezzano Ligure lies on the western side of the River Magra, the mouth of which marks the coastal border between Liguria and Tuscany: a little resort called Bocca di Magra. Vezzano is situated around 12 kilometres inland of the river mouth, just before it splits and turns north east in one direction and becomes the River Vara heading north west in the other.
Sights of the Centro Storico (Historic Centre)
As you wind your way up the road to the pretty village, the individual buildings within it start to take greater shape. The most striking of those is the Chiesa di San Sebastiano and Santa Maria Assunta which was built in the 17th century. It has a nice, triangular piazza in front of it and if you carry on up the hill, you'll find a car park on the bend. This is the perfect place to start your exploration from.
From the elevated position at the bend in the road you can get some great photos of the church and the town behind it. Then from there it's just a case of wandering the tight, narrow streets of the little centro storico. Just about the most famous sight in the village centre is the Torre Pentagonale which dates back to the twelfth century. The unusual five-sided tower reaches a height of 15 metres and boasts a panoramic viewing area at the bottom from where you can get some great views across to the River Magra and beyond.
Up the hill to Vezzano Alta
Once you've finished exploring the centro storico just described, you can continue up the hill. The area with the Torre Pentagonale is known as Vezzano Bassa (Lower Vezzano), while another kilometre up the road brings you to Vezzano Alta or Upper Vezzano. From this more elevated position the panoramas are even more spectacular.
Vezzano Ligure Travel
Although it's easiest to reach the town by car, Vezzano Ligure does have its own train station which is situated four and a half kilometres away. From there you can take a train to La Spezia which takes just under a quarter of an hour.
Close to Vezzano Ligure
There are some quite wonderful places to visit close to Vezzano Ligure; whether you fancy exploring some historic hill towns or relaxing by the beach, there's a little bit if everything.
On the other side of the River Magra is the historic town of Sarzana with its impressive fortress, while smaller towns such as Montemarcello and the fishing village of Tellaro can be found to the south. Lerici and the neighbouring San Terenzo combine to make one of Liguria's busiest seaside resorts while across the Gulf of Poets lies the gorgeous Portovenere.
One of the main attractions of Liguria, the five villages known as the Cinque Terre can be reached by train from the city of La Spezia or during the summer, by boat from Portovenere.
Despite its modest dimensions, Vezzano Ligure is extraordinarily pretty with its multi-coloured buildings clustered together on a hill. It's not a place that's particularly well publicised either; I myself only saw it by chance as I was refuelling my car at a service station on the A10/E80 motorway. I looked up and saw this beautiful splash of colour set against the backdrop of the hills and decided to go and explore.
Vezzano Ligure lies on the western side of the River Magra, the mouth of which marks the coastal border between Liguria and Tuscany: a little resort called Bocca di Magra. Vezzano is situated around 12 kilometres inland of the river mouth, just before it splits and turns north east in one direction and becomes the River Vara heading north west in the other.
Sights of the Centro Storico (Historic Centre)
As you wind your way up the road to the pretty village, the individual buildings within it start to take greater shape. The most striking of those is the Chiesa di San Sebastiano and Santa Maria Assunta which was built in the 17th century. It has a nice, triangular piazza in front of it and if you carry on up the hill, you'll find a car park on the bend. This is the perfect place to start your exploration from.
From the elevated position at the bend in the road you can get some great photos of the church and the town behind it. Then from there it's just a case of wandering the tight, narrow streets of the little centro storico. Just about the most famous sight in the village centre is the Torre Pentagonale which dates back to the twelfth century. The unusual five-sided tower reaches a height of 15 metres and boasts a panoramic viewing area at the bottom from where you can get some great views across to the River Magra and beyond.
Up the hill to Vezzano Alta
Once you've finished exploring the centro storico just described, you can continue up the hill. The area with the Torre Pentagonale is known as Vezzano Bassa (Lower Vezzano), while another kilometre up the road brings you to Vezzano Alta or Upper Vezzano. From this more elevated position the panoramas are even more spectacular.
Vezzano Ligure Travel
Although it's easiest to reach the town by car, Vezzano Ligure does have its own train station which is situated four and a half kilometres away. From there you can take a train to La Spezia which takes just under a quarter of an hour.
Close to Vezzano Ligure
There are some quite wonderful places to visit close to Vezzano Ligure; whether you fancy exploring some historic hill towns or relaxing by the beach, there's a little bit if everything.
On the other side of the River Magra is the historic town of Sarzana with its impressive fortress, while smaller towns such as Montemarcello and the fishing village of Tellaro can be found to the south. Lerici and the neighbouring San Terenzo combine to make one of Liguria's busiest seaside resorts while across the Gulf of Poets lies the gorgeous Portovenere.
One of the main attractions of Liguria, the five villages known as the Cinque Terre can be reached by train from the city of La Spezia or during the summer, by boat from Portovenere.
Comune di Vezzano Ligure
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Highlights: Chiesa di San Sebastiano, La Torre Pentagonale
Close by: La Spezia, Sarzana, Castelnuovo Magra, Lerici, Tellaro Train station: Vezzano Ligure (4.5 km from old town) Trains to: La Spezia - 14 minutes, €2.40 Recommended hotel: Locanda l'Ombrosa |
