Liepāja is sometimes called “Little Italy.”
🇮🇹 Guide: An Italian Atmosphere Route in Liepāja
Liepāja is a city that holds not only the whispers of the sea and the stories of the wind, but also a surprising southern charm. As you stroll through its streets, you might at times feel as though you've been transported to Italy—surrounded by architectural gems, art, wood-fired pizza, and the soft sound of classical music in the background. This route will guide you through places in Liepāja that evoke the spirit of Italy, showing you how to experience a Mediterranean vibe in just one day on the coast of Kurzeme.
🍕 1. Bel Cibo Pizza Napoletana – authentic Neapolitan pizzeria
To enjoy a true Neapolitan-style pizza, Bel Cibo Pizza Napoletana is a must-visit. This pizzeria is the first and only one in Latvia to receive an international certificate from the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, confirming its adherence to authentic Italian pizza-making traditions. It serves genuine Neapolitan pizzas prepared according to traditional recipes, baked in a Manna Forni wood-fired oven, and crafted with certified expertise. Each pizza here tells its own story – with a thin, crispy crust, fresh ingredients, and a rich depth of flavor. Visitors often say it’s the closest feeling to Italy one can experience in Latvia.
🏛️ 2. Architecture with a Mediterranean feel
Once your taste buds are satisfied, it’s time to feast your eyes. Liepāja boasts a rich Art Nouveau heritage, and many of these buildings create a true Italian-inspired route – where the eyes delight in architecture, the ears take in the street sounds, and the mind drifts to strolls in Florence, Trieste, or Bologna. This route leads from the Bel Cibo restaurant to the Rome Garden, revealing special architectural moments that let you feel the spirit of Italy right here in Liepāja.
🎨 3. Art at the “Roma” Gallery
It’s impossible to talk about Italy without mentioning art. The “Roma Garden” Gallery, located in the historic building at 3 Zivju Street, is a place where contemporary and classical art meet in elegant expression. This gallery regularly hosts exhibitions that inspire, provoke thought, and often bring an international breath of air. Experiencing art here feels like a symbolic bridge between Liepāja and Florence.
⚡ Bonus tip: Get around Italian-style – by electric bicycle
To enjoy this Italian-themed route in Liepāja even more comfortably, visitliepaja.lv offers electric bicycle rentals. Travel easily, quickly, and effortlessly – visiting the gallery, the pizzeria, and exploring the historic architecture all in one day. Along the way, you can savor the sea breeze and the rhythm of the city.