Livorno: history and art in a city by the sea

The expansion of the city took place during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and has left a legacy of palaces, museums and cultural institutions, as well as some art nouveau villas facing the sea.

Its cosmopolitan character, typical of port cities, can be found in the architecture and in the religious sites: in addition to a few Catholic churches, there are places belonging to various communities (Jewish, Greek, Armenian, Germanic-Dutch and English).

Its artistic character is instead demonstrated by its most excellent "sons": Amedeo Modigliani, Giovanni Fattori and Pietro Mascagni. The Giovanni Fattori Museum brings together over a hundred works of Macchiaioli painters and hosts international temporary exhibitions; the Museum Mascagnano collects testimonies and documents of the life and work of the great musician; the former home of Modigliani is today a museum displaying documents and photographs of the artist’s life.

Among the places that are worth a visit, there is the Cathedral, in Piazza Grande. Next to it, stands the Church of Santa Giulia, dedicated to the patron saint of Livorno and erected in 1602-03 by Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. The Church of San Jacopo in Acquaviva is among the most original churches for the beautiful location, facing the sea.

Finally, a meeting point during the summer nights, but also a fascinating destination for winter walks, is the large and elegant Terrazza Mascagni: a terrace overlooking the sea, from which you can admire the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago and incredible sunsets.

This article was written by Leila Firusbakht