Livorno Things to Do

In Piazza Micheli stands the monument to Ferdinand I, popularly known as the “Four Moors.” It was built by Giovanni Bandini in 1595 and the bronze figures of the “Moors” were added by Pietro Tacca in 1626. The neighboring Mascagni Terrace (in the past called “Spianata dei Cavalleggeri”) is a place for Sunday strolls. It contains the Cestoni acquarium, which includes the Inter-University Center of Marine Biology. It is presently closed for repairs.

One of the most interesting churches is S. Ferdinand (18th century). The eclectic interior, with a single nave, is richly decorated with stuccos. It also contains beautiful works by G. Baratta. Other churches and places of worship have names that attest to the coexistence of different nationalities and religious traditions: the Armenian Church, the Church of the United Greeks, the Dutch Church, the Synagogue of the Sephardic Jews, etc.

The heart of the lively maritime tradition is the picturesque neighborhood called New Venice, which is characterized by a thick network of canals and architectural elements from the Medici period. The Dominican Church of Saint Catherine (18th century) is unique for the octagonal design, surmounted by a tall (63 m.) dome. The apse is decorated with the Coronation of the Virgin by Vasari. On the edge of the district is the New Fort, an impressive bastion from the 17th century, today fitted out as a public park. The immense Piazza Della Repubblica, made by covering the Royal Canal, is also called “Voltone.” At the far end of the piazza are the statues of the Grand Dukes of Lorena, Ferdinand III and Leopold II (1800’s).

The Old Fortress, a grandiose five-sided complex, built to protect the port, is one of the most important monuments from the period of Medici urbanization. It was designed by Sangallo the Younger. Included within the pre-existing structure were the Mastio di Matilde (a large tower from the 11th century) and the Quadratura of the Pisans (a fortress from the 1300’s built by the Pisan Republic).

Piazza Grande. At the heart of the old city, this piazza was entirely rebuilt after the bombardment of 1943. In the piazza stands the Duomo (16th to 18th centuries), which was rebuilt after the Second World War along its original lines. Within there are paintings by Iacopo Ligozzi, Passignano, and Andrea del Sarto.

Ponce is a special kind of hot coffee mixed with rhum invented years ago by the owner of the historical bar "Civili", a little and "folk"but always crowdy place were you can find generations of livornesi playing cards, talking and joking with their little smoky glass in their hand. They won't tell you the secret of the right mix, but you can buy a nice bottle of "ponce" in there.
You can go and try it after a good fish dinner: the strong drink will surely help you!

surfing,bodyboarding,windsurfing,soccer,indoor soccer, gabbione (it's like indoor soccer, swimming, fishing,jogging, rollerblading
you can surf waves and in 2,5 hours you can surf snow too (only durin' winter)

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isn't this a paradise??