Spiaggia San Terenzo beach, La Spezia, Italy

Spiaggia di San Terenzo is the main beach of the seaside village of San Terenzo, located in the municipality of Lerici near La Spezia in the Liguria region of northwestern Italy. The beach lies on the eastern side of the Gulf of La Spezia, often called the Gulf of Poets, and forms part of a continuous coastal area that connects the towns of San Terenzo and Lerici. The bay is bordered by colorful houses and overlooked by the historic Castello di San Terenzo, creating a typical Ligurian seaside landscape.

The poet Percy Bysshe Shelley spent the last months of his life in 1822 at Villa Magni, on the seafront of San Terenzo; the name Gulf of Poets recalls him and the other writers who stayed here.

Location and Access

San Terenzo is about 10 km from La Spezia and a short walk from Lerici. By car, leave the A12 motorway at Sarzana and follow the local roads to the coast. The nearest railway station is in La Spezia, from where buses and taxis run to San Terenzo. The beach lies right along the village promenade, close to hotels and restaurants, and a seaside walkway leads to Lerici, so you can reach the beach on foot from either town.

Beach Characteristics

Spiaggia di San Terenzo is notable for having fine sand, which is relatively uncommon along the Ligurian coast where many beaches are rocky or pebbly. The shoreline is sheltered within a small bay, and a breakwater offshore helps keep the water calm. The seabed slopes gradually, making the beach suitable for swimming and family recreation. The sand is soft and the entry into the sea is gentle, allowing visitors to enter the water without special footwear.

Access to the public sections of the beach (spiaggia libera) is free of charge. Alongside these areas there are organized beach establishments where visitors can rent sun loungers and umbrellas for a daily fee.

Water Temperature

The swimming season in this part of Liguria generally lasts from June to October. Average sea temperatures are about 22–25 °C in June, 24–29 °C in July and August and 22–26 °C in September, while in winter the sea cools to about 13–15 °C.

Best Time to Visit

The most popular months for visiting San Terenzo Beach are July and August, when sea temperatures are highest and all beach services operate at full capacity. However, the beach can become crowded during this period. For visitors seeking pleasant weather with fewer tourists, June and September are often considered ideal months. During these periods the sea remains warm enough for swimming while the atmosphere is quieter than in peak summer.