The recently restored Castle of Lerici houses the Geopaleontological Museum. This important institution was born from the discovery made by Ilario Sirigu, in the territory of Lerici, in the footsteps of dinosaurs and other reptiles dating back about 220 million years ago and from the subsequent research of the Spezzino scientist Giovanni Capellini (one of the founders of geology in Italy), in the headlands of the Gulf.
The choice of the museum's headquarters fell on the castle being one of the most impressive and interesting fortifications existing in the Ligurian Gulf. Inside the castle you can visit the Gothic Chapel of San't Anastasia, dating back to the 13th century and decorated with black stone and white Genoese marble.
Of particular interest is the seismic simulation room: a novelty in the field of Italian museums. The room was created with the aim of understanding natural events such as earthquakes. The Geopaleontological Museum of the Castle of Lerici organizes, upon reservation, educational programs addressed to elementary and lower secondary schools.
These activities are carried out with the aim of showing the children the main dynamics that regulate the biological and geological evolution of the Earth.
How to reach Lerici?
By car: Highway A12 -A15, exit Sarzana and La Spezia follow direction Lerici By
bus: La Spezia Centrale station bus lines L and S (Via Lerici), at minutes 00-15-30-45 of every hour. Travel time 40 minutes.
Sarzana bus station line S, at minutes 15-45 of every hour. Travel time 20 minutes.
Sea transport: from La Spezia and from Portovenere.