Illuminated Church of San Pietro and Doria Castle, Portovenere, Liguria, Italy
© Francesco Russo/Sime/eStock Photo
A poetic port
At the end of a rocky spur jutting into the Gulf of La Spezia stands San Pietro church. It's been situated at this scenic spot since at least 1198, and is just one of the many cultural gems of Porto Venere, a northern Italian village of extraordinary beauty. With views like this, we can easily see how Porto Venere inspired poets and artists throughout history—including Lord Byron, who is said to have swum across the gulf to visit fellow poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. For that reason, among others, the Gulf of La Spezia is also known as The Gulf of Poets.
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