Sunset in La Spezia, Italy

Spectacular colors on a special coastline. These intense red-oranges and yellows that blend into deep blue daytime tones are found only on the clearest winter days in Liguria, since it is generally rather hazy there. It's defnitely not your tropical island sunset, but Italian sunsets can surely hold their own. This shot was taken of La Spezia from Tellaro.

The Liguria Region is made up of 4 Provinces: (starting from France) Imperia, Savona, Genova, La Spezia. La Spezia the part of Liguria that borders Tuscany, and has notable similarities, such as the abundant pine trees almost surrounding the large, vast beaches. The Cinque Terre are found in this province - about halfway between Genoa and La Spezia - and are part of a National Park which includes all five of the lands (Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore), Portovenere, and 3 small islands just off the coast (Palmaria, Tino, Tinetto). It has been named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

This is the view from the San Pietro Church in Portovenere (Portovenere is very close to La Spezia). There is a memorial outside the church dedicated to Lord Byron (the poet) who is said to have swum from this exact spot to the Cinque Terre.