Lerici

It’s impossible to estabilish the real Lerici’s time of foundation but the study on its ancient name “Portus Illycis” (probably from the greek “Iliakos”: Troyan) fed the theory of the foundation by a group of exiles from the War of Troy; this theory is supported by landscape’s beauty (similar to that of the Greek coasts) and by the fact that one of Lerici’s creek is consecrated to Venus.
The village was an important harbour for greek and phoenician trades, but it had its greatest links with the Etruscans, thanks to the closeness to Luni.
Lerici was contended by the Romans to the Ligurians for the relevant importance on maritime routes; the Romans conquered and used it as a trading and military stationing.
The harbour was important during the Medieval Age, too; under the power of Luni’s Bishop, a lot of travellers, pilgrims and merchants arrived in Lerici along their journey to the north of Italy and the central Europe.
Completely restored the Castle of Lerici is the seat of the Geopaleontologic Museum , very important in europe the tecnology applaied. Today Lerici is a small exclusive resort , even mantaining intact the testimonies of the past. Duringsummer a lot of famous and important poets and writers of the current literature spend their holidays here.
The climate allows the village to be a confortable resort for holidays all year round. The green of the hills and the vegetation distinguish the landscape of the area through the nice Fiascherino, where D. H. Lawrence spent long time, until Tellaro, whose architectural structure is very fashinating.
Lerici has a good accommodation capacity with hotels, typical restaurants, bathing establishments and discos. Here the cuisine is very typical. Among the most famous dishes we can remember: date mussels soup, fish in general and spaghetti “ alla lericina”.