Things to Do in Livorno, Italy: Beaches, Sights & Boat Trips

There are lots of interesting and fun things to do in the city of Livorno in Italy. This includes fun on beaches, exploring historic sites, the canals and options for boat trips. We enjoyed three days exploring the Tuscan city, and it kept us engaged.

The most popular attractions are the ancient Medici canals, the two medieval fortresses, Terrazza Mascagni and the beaches and water parks on the coast. There are also lots of historic buildings to see when sightseeing, including churches and palaces. We saw loads of the city, were impressed, and thought Livorno was well worth visiting.

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In addition to the main sights, there are options for guided tours and excursions. You can find details of these on the GetYourGuide or Viator websites. Between sightseeing, there are lots of nice places for food or drink out in Livorno.

Things to Do in Livorno, Italy

These are the fun activities and places of interest we saw while exploring the historic port city.

Fortezza Nuova

Fortezza Nuova is one of the city’s two major fortresses and is pretty nice to visit. We visited for many reasons, including to walk Henry. The fortress is open 24/7 for a mooch around and sometimes hosts events in the grounds. There are plenty of benches; thus, it’s a great place to chill out.

They began construction of the pentagonal fortress in 1590 under the direction of Grand Duke Ferdinand I de’ Medici, who was then in charge of Tuscany. The perimeter at that time was 1500 metres and took 25 minutes to walk around. In 1690, over half of the fortress was demolished, and it was modernised.

It is surrounded by canals and has only one entrance via the main gate. Fortezza Nuova also has a bookshop, nice bars and, during our visit, some food trucks with outdoor seating.

A cool feature to see when sightseeing in Fortezza Nuova is Cannone Francese, a cannon in the park. During the fortress’s heyday, there were 40 cannons defending it. Also, the views from the fortifications of the canals and buildings outside the fortress were great too.

Medici Canals

One of the principal features of Livorno is the Medici Canals, which you can see throughout the centre. This includes connecting the fortresses and other key sites. We walked along many parts of the canals and also took a boat trip to see more.

The Medici Canals are a network of waterways built by the Medici family starting in 1577 to develop the city and its port. The Medici family ruled Florence and Tuscany; the canals were significant to the growth of Florence as a port during their reign.

On my visit, I found the bridges across the canals great places to see the city, including at sunrise. One of the best viewpoints on the canal network is Ponte di Marmo, with views towards many pretty buildings.

Interestingly, the canals also pass under Piazza della Repubblica; you can see the water through some grids in the square. I also enjoyed walking down some slipways to get close to the water.

Boat Trip on Canals

An activity we really enjoyed was the boat tour of the canals and docks, which passed many of the city’s key sights. The tour we opted for was by Livorno Sailing, which departs at Fortezza Nuova. This was straightforward to book on their website, and we met at the departure point.

The boat tour was very informative and pointed out many historical buildings, telling the story of the canals in the city. The tour was in a few languages and easy to follow.

First up was to pass Fortezza Nuova and the canals here and then head underneath Piazza della Repubblica. This then followed the canals past the market hall and many grand buildings to the docks.

At the docks, the boat covered some ports, the Fortezza Vecchia and Silos dei Grani. It was also great to see the seafront and boats. This section highlighted the port’s historical importance to Tuscany and explained the influences on the city from around the world.

The tour then passed through the canals of the Quartiere Venezia, which has some great architecture and colourful buildings. Overall, the boat tour was great, and I would recommend it to visitors to get a gist of the city’s past. There are also other boat trips on different themes available in Livorno.

Cisternone

A cool building to see on the road between the centre and the railway station is Cisternone. Cisternone is a neoclassical building constructed in the 19th century to serve as a water reservoir. The dome and colonnade of the building are quite unique, especially for its purpose. Unfortunately, you can’t visit inside, but it’s worth a mooch around the outside.

Another part of the water system in Livorno is Cisternino di Città, a neoclassical building built in 1848. This is near the Piazza della Repubblica and looks very church-like.

Fortezza Vecchia

Another top place to visit is Fortezza Vecchia, a fortress on the seafront with an interesting history. The current fortress layout was developed by the Medici family in the 16th century; however, there were fortifications here, including towers.

Fortezza Vecchia is lovely to see from the docks and on various boat trips that pass it. Features include the fortress walls, an 11th-century tower and some decorative crests. You can walk around the site for free, which is nice.

It is also an event venue with various live music events happening. We found various things happening here during our stay, but they all started too late in the evening. To find out what’s on, see their website.

Terrazza Mascagni

The seafront in Livorno is a special place for a walk to enjoy the views, and one of the top areas is Terrazza Mascagni. Terrazza Mascagni is a pretty area of seawall with checkered flooring which looks great. I enjoyed walking around the area and taking in the views before heading back to the city centre.

The building at Terrazza Mascagni was built in the 1920s; however, much of its current appearance was developed after the Second World War. This is a wonderful viewpoint which was built on the site of a former fortress.

Interesting features include the floor, the gazebo and the decorative balustrade. The balustrade has 4100 concrete columns, and the floor covers 8700 square metres of check tiles. Apparently, there are 34,800 black-and-white tiles making up this special place.

Livorno Cathedral

One of many churches in the city is Livorno Cathedral, which is in a nice square. The cathedral is free to enter and worth a mooch around inside.

The cathedral is also known as the Cathedral of San Francesco, and its Renaissance facade was rebuilt after severe damage during the 2nd World War. The original was built between 1594 and 1606.

The inside is a cross plan and rather big; on my visit it was empty, and I had the building to myself for a look around. There were many nice decorative features, including art, columns, chapels, and some pipe organs.

Piazza della Repubblica

One of our favourite places for sightseeing and dog walks was Piazza della Repubblica. This is a massive square with some nice statues and views of pretty buildings, including the fortress. Interestingly, the canal runs underneath the square, which you can see through some grids on the floor.

Several of the main streets in Livorno converge here at the 18000 m² square. It was built in the 1840s to the designs of Luigi Bettarini. The two key monuments in the piazza are of Grand Duke Ferdinand III of Tuscany and his son, Leopold II of Tuscany.

A great time to visit is during sunset when the skies are pretty, and it’s a bit vibrant. There are also some cafes and restaurants at the edge of the square. Also, we caught quite a few buses from here to get to other parts of the city.

Beaches

There are many beach and swimming options along the coastline near Livorno, including spots near the iconic Terrazza Mascagni. I walked past a few here, including some with waterslides. On our visit, we were in the market for a sandy, dog-friendly beach, and Single Fin Tuscany Dog Beach piqued our interest. This was a 25-minute bus ride from our accommodation and was rather nice. The beach was sandy, clean, and well-maintained, and boy, were there lots of dogs.

New Synagogue

The New Synagogue is a pretty unique building to see in the centre. It’s quite young, being completed in 1962, which replaced one built in 1603, which was devastated during the Second World War in 1944. Apparently, the design was inspired by a desert tent, in memory of the Exodus.

Mercato Centrale

In every place I visit, I enjoy visiting the local markets, and Mercato Centrale in Livorno was no different. This was a massive building and full of stalls selling fresh food. A highlight for me was the fish market, which had a massive variety and made me regret staying in a hotel without a kitchen.

Mercato Centrale is one of the biggest covered markets in Europe and is rather impressive. It was built in the late 19th century with a blend of Neoclassic and Art Nouveau architecture and thus has some pretty features to see even if not shopping. The market hall is next to the canal and has a dock where goods were delivered for sale.

Other cool stalls here sold wine, baked goods, pasta, and herbs. Inside, there are also some cafes where you can enjoy a coffee, a croissant, or a beer. Seeing the market has inspired me to consider a longer stay in Livorno in the future and to cook my way through its produce.

Food & Drink Out

A great way to gain insight into a place’s culture is through its cuisine. Livornese food, as you’d expect, features lots of ingredients from the sea. Thus, seafood is a dominant feature of the city’s restaurant menus. We tried quite a few local seafood dishes, including a delicious seafood stew, Cacciucco alla Livornese. Other dishes we tried include simple fried and grilled seafood and fish.

Sunrise & Sunset Walks

I found the city excellent for both sunrise and sunset walks, and Henry, my dog, was taken on a few during our stay. There were many places to enjoy the city’s colourful skies.

One of my favourite spots for the sunset was the area between Fortezza Nuova and Piazza della Repubblica. The canals here have great views of the fortress as the sun goes down.

For sunrise, the canals alongside the central market hall towards the sea were great. Also, the far side of the docks was a good spot with views across the basin.