A trip on the Nuova Venezia Livorno Italy

Lying on the beautiful  Ligurian Sea is the small port of Livorno on the western coast of Tuscany, Italy. and for some unknown reason, It is known in English as Leghorn, although it is probably from the Genoese name “Ligorna.”

The town feels very small, sandwiched between the canals of Nuevo Venezia and the Ligurian sea, it almost seems unreal that this is the third largest port in Italy.

At the sea end of the canal system stands the sixteenth century Fortezza Nuovo, where there are nice views from the parapets to the sea, the canal and to the town and it is pleasant to meander around in the grounds too.

The canal system that threads through the town, know as Nuova Venezia (New Venice) and is probably one of the best ways to see the area and to note down some of the names of the bars and restaurants that have terraces over or onto the canal – the best way is to take a boat trip, as seen in the video below.

A great place to take a walk and to see the sunset on the sea is The Terrazza Mascagni, a 500 meter long promenade that curves around the seashore, made up of smart black and white chessboard tiles. Walk down to the Bagni Pancald, where there is a sea water swimming pool for safe swimming.

Have a look at the fresh produce in the Mercato Centrale, take a strong coffee and a pastry in one of the cafés and then wander among the outside stalls that sells clothes and some craft items.

The Piazza della Repubblica is a huge square, that can also be seen from the boat trip on the canal and it appears that all of the buses start and end here. You can catch a bus to the train station to go to Pisa and Florence for a day trip.

There are some fabulous restaurants along the waterfront, not far from the Fortezza Nuovo, where ultra fresh seafood is often served raw, with good cool Tuscan wines, some are very chic, although not overly expensive and others are more rustic, but the food is still of a very high quality.