The Palio del Golfo is a rowing challenge that is held every year, on the first Sunday of August, in the sea of the Gulf of La Spezia.

According to reports of the time, a similar event had already taken place as early as 1878 on the occasion of the launching of the battleship Regia Nave Dandolo.

The Palio was held for the first time in 1925, when the coastal towns of the gulf competed in a rowing race using boats used for sea fishing.

Looking back at the origins of the challenge, the traditional regatta was nothing more than a competition among the crews of boats loaded with fish or mussels. Therefore, it was not a true sporting event, but rather a commercial competition of sorts: whoever returned first to the port market would presumably make higher profits compared to the boats arriving later.

It was only from 1934 onwards that purpose-built hulls designed specifically for the race began to be used, replacing the traditional gozzi used for fishing.

In 1945, the Palio del Golfo was held in San Terenzo because La Spezia's Morin Promenade and the surrounding area were impassable following the heavy bombings suffered during World War II. On that occasion, it was the village of San Terenzo itself that claimed victory for the first time in its history.

The 2020 edition was canceled due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The Thirteen borgate Porto Venere Le Grazie Fezzano Cadimare Marola La Spezia Centro Canaletto Fossamastra Muggiano San Terenzo Venere Azzurra Lerici Tellaro

Winners Edition Year Winner76 2001 Marola77 2002 Marola78 2003 Marola79 2004 Fezzano 80 2005 Marola81 2006 Marola 82 2007 Cadimare 83 2008 Muggiano 84 2009 Canaletto 85 2010 Cadimare86 2011 Muggiano87 2012 Lerici 88 2013 Marola 89 2014 Le Grazie 90 2015 Fezzano 91 2016 Marola 92 2017 Lerici 93 2018 Fezzano 94 2019 Cadimare95 2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic96 2021 Fossamastra97 2022 Fezzano 98 2023 Fezzano99 2024 Muggiano100 2025 Canaletto1012026 Porto Venere

See also Regatta of the Historical Marine Republics Palio Marinaro di San Pietro

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