Discover Livorno – An Enchanting Harbor Town – Livorno may be just the typical harbor town, with restaurants serving the catch-of-the-day and a fishing heritage as lively as the locals stories – but its comparisons to Tuscany’s ideal rural setting are often unfair. Livorno is the second-largest city in Tuscany. So, of course, it’s got the usual buzzy downtown – but if you look beyond the busy port, you’ll find a charming, worn town of yesterday separated by canals, fringed by pebbly beaches and a beautiful waterfront. Lining the canals, you’ll find intricately designed baroque cathedrals and epic stone forts dating all the way back to the 11th century. And just outside Livorno, there are other places worthy of a day trip while you’re visiting.
As you move away from Livorno, chances are your first regional introduction will be to Pisa. It’s only a short drive up the coast from Livorno. If you take the train, the route is even shorter. You’ll discover why this scholarly city – their university dates back to the 1200s – is so much more than the unbalanced tower it’s so well-known for. Just a stroll through the city center will introduce you to Gothic churches, Renaissance piazzas, and, of course, the marble Duomo Cathedral. It was once the largest cathedral in Europe, but it remains one of its most impressive.
The leafy city of Lucca, while a bit more off-the-path than its neighbors, is ideal for getting away from Livorno’s buzz for a day. Just outside its walls that date back to the 1500s, you’ll discover fascinating architecture steeped in history. Buildings with red roofs line the cobbled streets. Afternoons are while away in sleepy cafés. Lucca has all the historical influences of its counterparts, with the addition of its hilly ring of spa waters and historical villas.
The perfect time to visit for warm-weather lovers are the summer months when temps top out in the mid-80s. But if you don’t mind a little less warmth and sparser tourists, May and September are perfect times to wander the piazzas. Winters rarely dip into freezing temps, and Tuscany is quite charming without the bustle of summer crowds.
Are you ready to see Livorno?
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