La Spezia's covered market hall on Piazza Cavour is one of the better food markets in Liguria — less famous than Genoa's, which means less crowded and more genuinely local. The arcaded iron-and-glass structure was built in the early 20th century and contains stalls selling local vegetables, fresh pasta, farinata, olives, pesto, and the various small preserved fish (acciughe sotto sale, bottarga) that define Ligurian cooking.
The market is at its best on weekday mornings. Come hungry: several stalls inside and on the edges sell hot food and you can eat a good lunch standing up for a few euros — focaccia, fried food, or a cup of local ribollita. The piazza itself has a lively atmosphere in the morning with people stopping for coffee at the surrounding bars.