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Photo: DamianoMartinoPhoto, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Historic village
Tellaro
Human settlement in Lerici, Italy
At a glance
- Type
- Historic village
- Elevation
- 10 m above sea level
- Coordinates
- 44°03′29″ N, 9°55′49″ E
History and description
Tellaro is a small fishing village, perched on a cliff on the east coast of the Gulf of La Spezia in Liguria, northern Italy. It is a frazione of the comune (municipality) of Lerici. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").
Tellaro has been the destination for many Italian and foreign artists. Mario Soldati made it his home in the last years of his life. Tellaro is one of the seaside villages that annually participate in the Palio del Golfo, an annual boat race held in the gulf of La Spezia.
History
1152: Tellora and Lerici are part of the Republic of Genoa.
The church of Saint George (named after the Christian matyr who triumphed over the dragon) was built between 1564 and 1584 as a fortification for the town to help protect against the constant incursions of the Saracens, the Catalans and local raiders.
Culture
Among the festivals of particular interest is the underwater Christmas celebrating the birth of Jesus on Christmas night. Every year the statue of the baby Jesus emerges from the water carried by a group of divers and placed in the manger, in a setting of over 8,000 candles and celebrated by fireworks over the sea.
The patron saint of Tellaro is St. George, which is celebrated on the 23rd of April.
The "Festival of the Octopus", which takes place every year on the second Sunday in August, organized by the Unione Sportiva active in the Ligurian village.
There are many legends about Tellaro. The most famous tells the story an attack by Saracen pirates in the Middle Ages. The village was saved by a giant octopus that warned the population by climbing up the church tower and ringing the bells.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Tellaro».
Photos
Getting there
SarzanaTrain, nearest
6.2 km as the crow flies
Tellaro
Port2.5 km
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the mapMore historic villages in Liguria
- Most beautiful villages
- Most beautiful villages
- Most beautiful villages
Frequently asked questions
Where is Tellaro?
Tellaro is in Lerici, in the province of La Spezia (Liguria), Italy. GPS coordinates: 44.05802, 9.93037.
What else is there to see near Tellaro?
Nearby you’ll find: Castle of Ameglia (2.3 km away), Ameglia (2.4 km away), Castello di San Giorgio (2.5 km away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 9 photos
- Lerici - Chiesa di San Giorgio - 2024-09-30 00-06-42 001 — DamianoMartinoPhoto, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Crepuscolo - Tellaro, Lerici, La Spezia, Italia - 10 Luglio 2022 01 — Giorgio Galeotti, CC BY 4.0
- Golfo dei Poeti ft Tellaro — William Domenichini, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Isola del Tino vista da Tellaro — William Domenichini, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mareggiata a Tellaro — Pamyd85, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Palmaria Island - Tellaro, La Spezia, Italy - May 29, 2021 — Giorgio Galeotti, CC BY 4.0
- Tellaro - Il Borgo — William Domenichini, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Tellaro - panoramio (1) — Pier B., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Tellaro - Tellaro, Lerici, La Spezia, Italia - 10 Luglio 2022 — Giorgio Galeotti, CC BY 4.0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences