Livorno

The Medici founded Livorno as their outlet to the sea and in the 1590s issued the Leggi Livornine, laws inviting merchants of any origin or religion to settle with freedom of worship and amnesty from past debts; Jews, Greeks, Armenians, English and Dutch communities followed, and the city grew unusually mixed for its time. The Venezia Nuova quarter was built on the Venetian model with canals between warehouses, crossed by bridges and best seen by small boat. Cacciucco is the local fish stew, traditionally made from several kinds of fish and shellfish. Heavy bombing in 1943 destroyed much of the old fabric.

Background

The first record dates from 1017, when Livorna was a small coastal village with a harbour and what was left of a Roman tower. Matilda of Tuscany built a tower in 1077, and Pisa held the place from 1103, adding a four-sided fort called the Quadratura dei Pisani. Florence bought it on 28 August 1421. A census taken between 1427 and 1429 counted 118 families, 423 persons. The Fortezza Vecchia went up between 1518 and 1534, and part of two towers and a stretch of wall inside it are all that survive of medieval Livorno. Bernardo Buontalenti drew the first plan in 1577, and Ferdinando I de' Medici raised Livorno to the rank of city on 19 March 1606.

Source: Wikipedia, "Livorno"

What you'll find

• The Venezia Nuova - a canal quarter of warehouses and bridges.
• The Medici free-port laws - the reason for the city's mixed communities.
• The fortresses - the Fortezza Vecchia and Nuova on the waterfront.
• Cacciucco - the multi-fish stew served in the port restaurants.

When to go

April to October; canal boat tours run in the warm months. The Effetto Venezia festival fills the quarter in summer. Winter closes many tours.

Things to know

Wartime bombing destroyed much of the historic centre and modern rebuilding dominates. The cruise-port area is unattractive. Canal tours are seasonal.

Nearby

Pisa lies north; the Etruscan Coast runs south.

Key facts