Baia di San Terenzo

You anchor off this pretty bay backed by a colourful hilltop castle and pastel-painted houses tumbling down to the waterfront. It has a real lived-in Ligurian charm — San Terenzo is a small coastal town rather than a tourist resort, so you'll find an authentic mix of local bars and seafront promenades when you row ashore. From here it's easy to catch a bus into La Spezia or along the coast to Lerici, making it a handy base for exploring the Gulf of Poets.