Livorno Things to Do

  Canal from Piazza della repubblica
by maykal
 
  • Canal from Piazza della repubblica
      Canal from Piazza della repubblica
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  •   Things to Do
    by hivaoa1
  • Terrazza Mascagni
      Terrazza Mascagni
    by maykal
  • Terrazza Mascagni
      Terrazza Mascagni
    by maykal
  • Fortezza Vecchia
      Fortezza Vecchia
    by maykal
 

Most Recent Things to Do in Livorno

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Walk on the beach.
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Dizzyhead 3935 reviews
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I was here a day in the autumn and it was really lovely to walk on the beach then. If you also visit Livorno att he same time as me, you have to take a walk and feel the fresh air and the wind through your hair. I walked here with a vt-friend and had the dog with. That was really nice.

Written Jan 13, 2011

Related to:
 Beaches
 Hiking and Walking
 Road Trip

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Fortezza Vecchia and the harbour
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maykal 1290 reviews
Quattro Mori
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Livorno's harbourfront is a picturesque place, with all the posh yachts at one end, and the smaller dowdier fishing boats shoved up by the old fort. Along the waterfront is a large monument called the Quattro Mori, with a statue of a Grand Duke surrounded by four prisoners in chains.

Written Jan 6, 2009

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Chiesa di San Jacopo in Acquaviva
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Chiesa di San Jacopo in Acquaviva
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At the end of the Terrazza Mascagni, a piazza opens up, ending with the church of San Jacopo in Acquaviva. Not the most attractive church in the world, it's not particularly ugly either...but the church and the adjoining old houses do stand out a bit, surrounded by the modern buildings across the piazza.

On the sea side of the square, you can get a good view of those sunning themselves on the rocks in the private bathing complex. Just as we were walking past, we noticed two girls posing in their designer beachwear and a rogue wave fast approaching. We stopped to watch the carnage ensue, and snorted as they screamed and checked their makeup.

Updated Jan 6, 2009

Address: Piazza di San Jacopo in Acquaviva

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Terrazza Mascagni
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Terrazza Mascagni
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Further along the coast from the Scoglio della Regina and a modern day "beach" complex, the Terrazza Mascagni sprouts out from a patch of wasteground, and at first seems underwhelming. But, as it turns the corner, the checkboard terrace suddenly becomes impressive. Behind it, there is a park with various monuments like a bandstand, and the Grand Hotel Palazzo. The terrazza was very popular among fishermen and wedding photographers on my visit.

Written Jan 6, 2009

Address: Viale Italia

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Scoglio della Regina
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Scoglio della Regina, Livorno
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Walking towards the seafront, the first place you come to is the Scoglio della Regina, the Queen's bathhouse, a dilapidated old building hanging over the sea at the end of a pier. I suppose these bathhouses must have been popular at some point, allowing bathers to dip in privacy, but unfortunately things change and Scoglio della Regina looks as if it is about to drift off into the Med. Maybe one day it will be renovated and reopened as something, but for now it is quite a sad sight.

Written Jan 6, 2009

Address: Viale Italia, Livorno

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Mercato Centrale and the main canal
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Mercato Centrale, Livorno
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Behind Piazza della Repubblica, the main canal re-appears and turns a corner, where the buildings alongside it become much grander and more impressive as you near the sea. One of the grandest buildings is the large Mercato Centrale, a three story dark brownish pile in between lots of yellow buildings. The canal is one of the more active waterways in the city, with many small boats going back and forth. What I'd like to know is...do the boats carry on under the piazza-cum-bridge?

Written Dec 7, 2008

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Piazza della Repubblica
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Piazza della Repubblica from Fortezza Nuova
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The most impressive square in Livorno is actually a sort of bridge over the main canal. It seems far too large for a place like Livorno, far too grand...and very empty. Two larger than life statues face off each other across the length of this huge piazza, but I forget who they are...

One one side, a busy road separates the piazza from the canal facing the Fortezza Nuova. The canal branches off and travels under the piazza, emerging on the other side to form a sort of moat around the centro storico. Just next door to Piazza della Repubblica is Piazza Garibaldi, a smaller version with a statue of Garibaldi.

If this piazza was in any other Tuscan city, there would be overpriced outdoor cafes and portrait artists and mime artists and buskers. But Livorno has none of this. In fact, we couldn't find a single cafe around the square...and by that time, I needed a shot of coffee!

The best views are to be had from inside the Fortezza Nuova...tramp through the undergrowth and scramble up the wall behind the playground, and Piazza della repubblica spreads out before you.

Written Dec 7, 2008

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Other churches
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The half-derelict church, Livorno
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Livorno has plenty of old churches dotted around the place, although I only went inside one. I remember one church looked as if it had just survived a bomb attack...the building to the side had been blasted, and bits of wall crumbled into rubble, but the church itself seemed to be still in tact. Then of course there is the Duomo on a busy square, the Armenian and Greek churches on a busy shopping street, and a synagogue as evidence of Livorno's Jewish past.

Written Dec 7, 2008

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Chiesa di Santa Caterina da Siena
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Chiesa di Santa Caterina da Siena, Livorno
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In the heart of Venezia Nuova is this church, which looks quite plain from the outside, just dull bricks and an octagonal belltower. But inside, the dome is impressively painted. It dates from the 1700s and actively welcomes visitors who dress respectfully (no shorts...).

I tried to take a few photos inside, but I haven't yet mastered the art of holding the camera steady without using the flash, so they are a bit blurred :(

Written Dec 7, 2008

Address: Piazza dei Domenicani, Livorno

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Quartiere Venezia Nuova
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Il quartiere Venezia Nuova, Livorno
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The streets around the Fortezza Nuova were built to resemble Venice, with a network of canals and bridges. It's not exactly a small Venice...the buildings aren't nearly as grand as venetian palaces, and the waterways are not filled with water taxis and gondolas...but neither are the walkways clogged with millions of tourists. In fact, I saw not a single one. This whole quarter was very quiet, hardly anyone about, and despite the many boats morred along the sides of the canals, very few were actually in use.

The Venezia Nuova quarter does not have any major sights...instead it is just a nice residential quarter to walk around. There are some old churches lurking in the backstreets, not looking so impressive from the outside, but very ornate on the inside, so don't be put off by bland exteriors.

The houses are all slightly dilapidated, decaying, fading...if this was Venice, they would have been given a lick of paint and patched up, but I prefer them this way.

Written Dec 7, 2008

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 The streets around the Fortezza Nuova were built to resemble Venice, with a network of canals and bridges. It's not exactly a small Venice...the buildings... 

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Questions and Answers

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Q:  I am going on a cruise with 12 other family members.When we get off the ship in Livorno Italy, are we able to rent a car that... 

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A: No car or taxi can possibly carry 13 people. You will need to hire a minibus/minivan (or 2+ vehicles) and yes, you will need to organise and book this before you... 

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Top Livorno Writers

1

livorno, my hometown together with Rio

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 life in Livorno means beach... beach.. beach.. but not only... 

2

this is the coolest town in Italy for young people

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 I've got some interesting experiences in Livorno. I'd love to share with you the 173 tips I've written, the 215 photos uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created. 

3

Livorno is a town that doesn't give a damn. Great!

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 And there is just one thing I want to say to you. Ready? Ok you Livornese. There is nothing wrong with your city that could not be fixed by getting out of your cars and off your vespas and into the... 

4

Azhut's new Livorno Page

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  This is the Livorno shore! Come here to see our beautiful sea and you will never forget it :-) 

5

Livorno

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 Finding out what there is to do in Livorno can be a bit tricky. Livorno is a major port in one of Italy's most visited regions, Tuscany, and thousands if not millions of tourists pass through the port... 

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