Lerici and San Terenzo: the bay of the english

The stretch of coast that goes from San Terenzo to Lerici is a bend in the quiet Ligurian sea, defended by an impervious coast that softens only further south, where Tuscany begins.
The first to discover it were the British, who arrived here in the early 1800s and fell in love with it, becoming a refuge for the romantic poets of the time: Byron, Shelley, Dickens and Lawrence stayed at this corner of paradise that inspired literary works .
Lerici was already a port at the time of the Etruscans and later eternally disputed between the maritime republics of Genoa and Pisa, which made it its northern outpost; this warlike past is testified by the castle, an imposing fortress built in the early 1200s by the Pisans and then enlarged by the Genoese, which today houses the Geopalentological Museum, born following the discovery of dinosaur footprints in the territory of Lerici.
Close to the castle, on a small hill, lies the medieval village with typical stairways and alleys, called “carugi”; at the foot of the hill are Piazza Garibaldi and largo Marconi with the oratory of San Rocco and its fifteenth-century bell tower.
Near Lerici there is the village of San Terenzo, which closes the bay to the west, protected by a small castle dating back to 1500, with the splendid beach of fine white sand and the typical marina where traditional Ligurian boats are moored, called ” goiter “.
Lerici and San Terenzo are connected by a beautiful walk of about 2 kilometers which winds a few meters from the shoreline and overlooks the long sandy beach of Venere Azzurra with its bathing establishments and a breathtaking view of Portovenere and the Palmaria islands, Tino and Tinetto.
The bay, well protected and ventilated, is ideal for sailing boats; the area is frequently used for regattas and here are the two prestigious sailing clubs Caprera and Santa Teresa, which offer courses for adults and children to learn the basics of sailing and refined regatta techniques.
In addition, the sea of ​​Lerici has for years earned the prestigious environmental recognition of the Blue Flag, which attracts thousands of diving and snorkeling enthusiasts every year. In front of the town, in the waters of Caletta, some marble columns were found which constituted the load of a Roman ship bound for the port of Luni; today the area has become a small marine archaeological park.
At Venere Azzurra there is a Tennis Club and the Marigola Golf Club, which is located near an enchanting period villa; it is a simple nine-hole course from which you can enjoy a splendid view of the historic center and the castle.