Lerici’s Castle – Castello di Lerici, Italy

The most prominent landmark
of Lerici, the castle, is visible from all over the place but is worth checking out close up. It has spectacular views of the Gulf of Poets and is home to a delightfully wacky museum – there’s a gothic chapel, modern art sculptures, and a permanent dinosaur exhibit. A tunnel underneath it connects the waterfront to a secret beach and restaurant, and usually displays artwork from the local art school. There’s also a “secret” path around the back side of the castle that has some lovely views but does not currently give access to the entrance.

King of the castle and the court “Jeffster”

Jess, Bosco, Rosa, Colette and Jeff besiege the castle

The view of Lerici harbour from the Castle Piazza near the museum entrance

Bosco and the Bates family appreciating the view

Up we go, into the museum. Bosco was not the only dog in there

The very top part of the castle, looking towards Portovenere and the islands

The Lerici waterfront is so pretty at night, and the castle is its crowning glory

It’s quite a large structure

Entering the “secret” back path gives beautiful views out the mouth of the Golfo dei Poeti and over to the islands by Portovenere

Leigh and Bosco enjoying the view

Lots of lovely local art and sculptures installed back here

You can also look down to see the decaying ruins of a now extinct dinosaur exhibit

On hot days, it’s a great place to cool of in the sea breeze

Bosco has very fine artistic taste

It’s also the site of Lerici’s only Pokemon Gym (red post thing, top left), so there’s that