In the province of La Spezia, nestled on the cliffs overlooking the Gulf of La Spezia, Tellaro has been enchanting anyone lucky enough to discover it for centuries: Mary Shelley, Eugenio Montale, Marco Soldati and Lawrence are just a few of the artists in whose souls this small hamlet of Lerici has left its mark.
\nThe road itself to Tellaro, located on the Costa di Levante, is a true marvel: it starts from Lerici and, skirting the sea at the height of Maralunga and Fiascherino, one arrives in the heart of this, which is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Located on the east coast, Tellaro is a picture-postcard village, with its narrow alleyways, tall coloured houses typical of the Ligurian coast and picturesque views of the Gulf of La Spezia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":313279,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"the-village":"
Historical notes<\/strong> Until the 14th century, Tellaro was just a small fortified citadel, an outpost of Barbazzano (of which only a few ruins remain today, reachable by a path through the vegetation) with the function of sighting and opposing the Saracens from the sea who so often brought devastation and death. In 1348, decimated by the plague and harassed by the constant Saracen attacks, the citizens moved to the fortress of Tellaro, which over time grew into a village. Its economy is based, in the past as now, on agriculture, fishing, olive growing and tourism, which began in the 19th century with the arrival of illustrious members of European high society.<\/p>\n Discovering the historic centre of the village<\/strong> The heart of Tellaro is the central Piazza della Marina, perfect for tasting the local specialities in the osterias overlooking the gulf. Not to be missed are the octopus all'inferno (stewed with chilli, tomato and bay leaves), mussels alla spezzina (stuffed with eggs, mortadella, breadcrumbs and parmesan), sweet focaccia with sultanas and pine nuts, but above all octopus tellarese style (boiled and dressed with lemon and potatoes). In Piazza della Marina there is a small slipway for pulling fishing boats to shore and two stone basins where the waters of the Capo\u00e0igua stream once flowed and were used as wash houses. From the same square, a splendid promenade begins that runs along the sea as far as the iconic Gr\u00f2 rock, from which the view sweeps over the entire Gulf of La Spezia and the islands of Tinetto, Tino and Palmaria.<\/p>\n
\nThe name Tellaro suggests one of the most flourishing and ancient forms of trade in the village, that of fabrics and cloths.
\nThe area where the village is located was inhabited since VIII B.C. by the ancient Etruscans who founded Luni, today's Lerici. The Ligurians soon arrived, followed by the Romans, who, more than anyone else, increased the commercial vein of the area, first under the dominion of Pisa and then of Genoa.<\/p>\n
\nTellaro is a picture-postcard village, with its narrow alleyways, tall coloured houses typical of the Ligurian coast and picturesque views of the Gulf of La Spezia: this is the setting for many events such as the Octopus Festival and the evocative Underwater Christmas, during which the statue of the Baby Jesus re-emerges from the sea to be laid in its manger in the Stella Maris Church.<\/p>\n