A Look At Livorno

Continuing my look at European Ports that are often overlooked it is the turn of Livorno. It is well known for being the starting point for cruise ship tours to Florence & Pisa but what else does it offer?

I have never been to Livorno and. looking at picture online, the port itself doesn’t`t look too exciting. The city sits on the west coast of Tuscany and is one of Italy`s largest ports. Once a fishing village at the mouth of the river Arno , today it has huge shipyards and a busy cruise terminal. The port is within walking distance of the town centre, but most cruise passengers will simply step off the ship and onto a coach to head inland.

Livorno is well known for its excellent seafood restaurants and also has some decent shops but, apart from an aquarium and a natural history museum with skeletons of whales not much else.

So a visit to either beautiful Florence or Pisa to see the leaning tower is a good idea when in Livorno. Famous in Tuscany for the tower, which began leaning as soon as it was built in 1372, Pisa also has a vibrant and busy café and bar scene which eminates from the university population living there.

Florence, lying about an hour and a half drive away from Livorno, is the real Jewel in the Crown of this lovely part of Italy. Italian taxis are expensive so the best way to get there is probably a tour from your cruise ship or even the ” Go it alone ” type excursion.

There really is too much in Florence to do it justice in a day but you will probably be tempted back again for a longer visit, as I was. Where to start ? Head for a stroll over the Ponte Vecchio, the mediaeval stone enclosed bridge over the river Arno. Of course the famous Duomo and the Uffizi Gallery  home of Botticelli`s ” Birth of Venus” and Leonardo D`Vinci`s ” Annunciation”.

If you fancy a cocktail head to the famous Harry`s Bar along by the river and for food you will be spoilt for choice. One of my favourites is Trattoria Marione on Via Della Spada.

So the best thing to do in Livorno? Take a trip to Florence!