Livorno, the third largest city in Tuscany, it is a port city on the Ligurian Sea on the western edge of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno with 170,000 inhabitants. Livorno was born as a small village inhabited by fishers; thanks to Cosmo de' Medici, in 1571 he choose Livorno as the site for Tuscany’s new port after Pisa’s harbor silted up. From 1607- 1621 the English marine engineer Sir Robert Dudley built the great sea wall that protects the harbor.

Livorno was enlarged at the end of the 18th century by Leopold II, who also opened the city to foreign merchants, attracting people of different nationalities.

It became a free port under Ferdinand I from 1608, and remained such until 1860, when it became part of the Kingdom of Italy.

During World War II, Livorno received moderate damage, including to a historic cathedral. It has always prospered, and today is the second most important port in Italy after Genoa for transporting both goods and passengers.

Places to visit in Livorno

The Fortezza Vecchia

Old Fortress, with its imposing ramparts dominating the Medici port was built on Roman ruins dating back to ancient Liburnum. These have been partially restored and can be visited during the summer.

The moats

The most important of which is the Fosso Reale (Royal Moat), enclose the oldest part of the city and deliniate its perimeters, designed by the arhitect Buontalenti with Piazza Grande as its centre. When the architect Buontalenti planned the new city of Livorno in 1576, he envisaged the huge Piazza Grande at the heart of a network of wide avenues. The square`s original apperance has however, been lost. This is partly due to contoversial post-war rebuilding, which cut the square into two halves: the present Piazza Grande and Largo Municipio.

The Duomo

Faithfully reconstructed after being bombarderd during the last World War, faces into the square. The original building was designed by Inigo Jones, in 16th Century, who served his apprenticeship under the arhitect Buontalenti.

Venezia Nuova

Originally laid out in the middle of the 17th century, this area, which includes the 18th-century church of Santa Caterina, is spread between a handful of canals, reminiscent of Venetian waterways. Although it only covers a few blocks, Venezia Nuova is one of the city`s most scenic areas.

Fortezza Nuova

Dates from the 16th Century has also been excavated. There is access to a public park with a magnificent view of the city from inside the upper part of the ramparts.

The Mercato centrale

Central Market is still in operation today. Opened in 1893 it has a central body covered with a roof held aloft by horsemen made of iron in Parisian style.

The Cisternone

Big Cistern is a neoclassical building containing a water tankfrom the 19th Century and has a Doric colonnade surmounted by a large niche.

The Mercatino Americano

American Market is held between Piazza Repubblica and Piaza XX Settembre. The name came about after the War when all sorts of American army goods were sold there. In addition, the market sells typical market items. Many bars, restaurants and pizza places are located in this part of town.

English Cemetery

The 19th century memorials to British and American emigres, long untended, are considerably overgrown. Among them is the grave of Tobias Smollet (1721-71), the misanthropic Scottish novelist. He claimed to live in Italy for health reasons, and, predictably, constantly complained about the place.

Museo Civico

Houses temporary exhibitions and several paintings by Giovanni Fattori, an artist of the Macchiaioli School.

For more information visit

Comune Livorno