Livorno – port city on the Tuscan coast

With around 152.000 inhabitants, Livorno is the third largest city in Tuscany after Florence and Prato, and its most important port. Instead of medieval alleyways, you'll find a vibrant port city dating back to the Medici era, complete with canals, fortresses, a large market hall, and a waterfront promenade featuring the famous Terrazza Mascagni – and its own unique cuisine centered around fish and the hearty stew Cacciucco.

Get to know Livorno

Location and character

Livorno lies on the coast in western Tuscany, about 20 km south of Pisa . To the north, the city is dominated by the port, shipyards, and industrial facilities, while to the south, a rocky coastline with swimming spots begins at Ardenza and Antignano. Many people only know the city as a ferry port or cruise ship stop – but it's well worth a full day.

History: the Medici's ideal city

From a small fishing village, the Medici turned Livorno into a port city in the 16 century. With the “Leggi Livornine” of 1593, Grand Duke Ferdinando I guaranteed merchants from all over the world freedom of religion and protection – and so an open-minded city grew, with large Jewish, Greek and Armenian communities. During the Second World War, Livorno was heavily bombed, which is why much of the city centre was rebuilt after 1945.

Sights in Livorno

Port and fortresses

The Fortezza Vecchia (1518–1534) stands at the old port, on the site of a medieval tower. Right next to it, the Monument of the Four Moors (Quattro Mori) commemorates Ferdinando I: the statue of the Grand Duke was created by Giovanni Bandini, while the four bound figures were added in the 1620s by Pietro Tacca. The Fortezza Nuova (1590–1604) is located on the edge of the canal district; inside is a park. The Accademia Navale, in the south of the city, trains officers of the Italian Navy.

Venezia Nuova: the canal district

From 1629 onwards, the Venezia Nuova district was built on land reclaimed from the sea – modeled after Venetian architecture, with canals (fossi), bridges, warehouses, and merchants' palaces. Boat trips on the Medici canals offer a unique perspective of the city from below. Every year at the end of July/beginning of August, the district celebrates the "Effetto Venezia" festival with concerts, theater, and boat tours (2026: July 29 to August 2, free admission).

Piazza Grande, Cathedral and Synagogue

At the heart of the city lies the Piazza Grande with the cathedral, which is dedicated to Saint Francis, among others, and was consecrated in 1606. From here, the shopping street Via Grande leads to the port, while Via Cairoli heads towards Piazza Cavour. The modern synagogue stands in Piazza Benamozegh – a reminder of the city's once-important Jewish community.

Central Market

The Mercato Centrale, also called Mercato delle Vettovaglie, is a monumental market hall from the late 19 century on the Fosso Reale canal (Scali Aurelio Saffi / Via Buontalenti). From Monday to Saturday mornings, fish, meat, cheese, fruit and vegetables are sold here; in the streets around it there are stalls selling clothing, and on Piazza Cavallotti there is a fruit and vegetable market. Inside the market, the Osteria Alle Vettovaglie cooks with ingredients from the stalls. You can find other markets in the region under Markets in Tuscany.

Where is the Mercato Centrale?

Terrazza Mascagni and Aquarium

The Terrazza Mascagni (1925–1928) is the landmark of the waterfront promenade: a curved terrace with approximately 34.800 black and white tiles in a checkerboard pattern and a view of the sea – particularly beautiful at sunset. Right next to it, the Diacinto Cestoni Aquarium displays around 30 animals from about 2.000 species, primarily from the Mediterranean, in approximately 300 tanks – a great activity for families with children . Whales and dolphins live in the open sea off Livorno, which is part of the Pelagos Marine Protected Area – learn more about this under Whales and Dolphins in Tuscany.

Montenero

On a hill south of the town lies the pilgrimage sanctuary of Montenero, dedicated to Our Lady of Grace, the patron saint of Tuscany. The gallery of votive paintings of sailors rescued from shipwrecks is well worth seeing; from the top, you have a sweeping view of the coast and the sea.

Eating, shopping and bathing

Food in Livorno

Typical Livorno dishes include Cacciucco (a hearty stew made with various types of fish and served with toasted bread), Triglie alla livornese (red mullet in tomato sauce), and, for a snack, "Cinque e cinque," a roll topped with chickpea fritters (torta di ceci). We've compiled a list of recommended restaurants in Livorno: The Best Restaurants.

Shops and opening hours

The main shopping streets are Via Grande, Via Ricasoli, and Via Cairoli. Many smaller shops are open in the morning and late afternoon until the evening, closing for lunch; larger stores and chains in the city center are usually open all day. Most shops are closed on Sundays.

Beaches near Livorno

The city beaches along the promenade are mostly rocky and pebbly coves with lidos. South of Antignano, the coast becomes wilder; the Quercianella section was awarded the Blue Flag in 2026. Sandy beaches can be found further south from Vada and Cecina – see the coastal tour Livorno – Cecina and Tuscany: Sea and Beach.

Arrival and ferries

You can reach Livorno via the A12 motorway or the Florence–Pisa–Livorno (FI-PI-LI) expressway, and by train (Livorno Centrale station). The nearest airport is Pisa. Ferries depart from the port to Corsica (Bastia), Sardinia (Olbia, Golfo Aranci), Sicily (Palermo), and the island of Capraia ; many cruise ships also dock there. Ferries to Elba , however, depart from Piombino ( Getting to Elba ).

Frequently asked questions about Livorno