LIVORNO
LIVORNO
Is one of the provinces of Tuscany and has around 160.000 inhabitants. In the whole region, Livorno is the most important commercial and tourist port. Although some remains that date back to the 1st century BC were found, the city flourished in the XVIth century thanks to the Medici governance, a famous Italian family. Since between the XIIth and the XVth centuries the Porto Pisano (the port near to the Medicean Fortress) and the communication routes from and/or to the Republic of Pisa were thriving more and more, the Fanale dei Pisani (the first lighthouse of the city) was erected. In the XVIth century after being in Milan, Genoa and Florence the Medici finally arrived in Livorno and delivered improvements both in the port area and in the city adding buildings and a new defence system. It was composed by ramparts and ditches which were designed and built by Bernardo Buontalenti, a famous architect hired by the Medici. In 1590 thanks to the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Ferdinando I de’ Medici, the Leggi Livornine were promulgated in order to increase the population in the city, which would become a free trade zone. The Leggi Livornine were laws that enabled the writing-off of debts with foreigners, the tax exemption, general pardon, and the possibility to buy a new house without any kind of problem. In 1953 the Leggi Livornine turned into a proper Constitution (Costituzione Livornina) that enabled freedom of worship, profession, and political choice and general pardon for the following 25 years, together with further facilitation. Logically, to profit from the new regulations people had to live I. Livorno. All this led to the creation of a multicultural and cosmopolitan city; for instance, Jews did not live in ghettos. These radical changes empowered Livorno as commercial port. Today the port of Livorno boasts the famous Cantiere Navale Orlando (Orlando shipyard). The naval academy of today was founded in the late XIXth century and one of its cadets was Manlio Garibaldi (Giuseppe Garibaldi's last-born child); for this reason, the Garibaldi family moved to Livorno. Nowadays the port of Livorno is divided into various wharves: Porto Mediceo, Varco Galvani, Sgarallino, Darsena Toscana, Molo Italia and Varco Velessini. Every year thousands of merchant ships and cruiser liners pass from the port of Livorno.
Important sights of the city:
Illustrious people from Livorno: Pietro Mascagni, Amedeo Modigliani, Giovanni Fattori, Giovanni Pascoli
Typical local dishes: Baccalà alla Livornese (dried salt cod), Cacciucco (spiced fish soup), all kinds of fish dishes.
Events in Livorno: - Effetto Venezia: Every summer, a series of performances and shows, cultural events and local street markets are held along the streets of the oldest district of the city, the Venice District (quartiere Venezia). - Tuffo di Capodanno (The Dive of New Year’s Day): on the 1st of January the most courageous and fearless people can dive into the sea. -Palio marinaro: it takes place in the part of the sea in front of Terrazza Mascagni.
Is one of the provinces of Tuscany and has around 160.000 inhabitants. In the whole region, Livorno is the most important commercial and tourist port. Although some remains that date back to the 1st century BC were found, the city flourished in the XVIth century thanks to the Medici governance, a famous Italian family. Since between the XIIth and the XVth centuries the Porto Pisano (the port near to the Medicean Fortress) and the communication routes from and/or to the Republic of Pisa were thriving more and more, the Fanale dei Pisani (the first lighthouse of the city) was erected. In the XVIth century after being in Milan, Genoa and Florence the Medici finally arrived in Livorno and delivered improvements both in the port area and in the city adding buildings and a new defence system. It was composed by ramparts and ditches which were designed and built by Bernardo Buontalenti, a famous architect hired by the Medici. In 1590 thanks to the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Ferdinando I de’ Medici, the Leggi Livornine were promulgated in order to increase the population in the city, which would become a free trade zone. The Leggi Livornine were laws that enabled the writing-off of debts with foreigners, the tax exemption, general pardon, and the possibility to buy a new house without any kind of problem. In 1953 the Leggi Livornine turned into a proper Constitution (Costituzione Livornina) that enabled freedom of worship, profession, and political choice and general pardon for the following 25 years, together with further facilitation. Logically, to profit from the new regulations people had to live I. Livorno. All this led to the creation of a multicultural and cosmopolitan city; for instance, Jews did not live in ghettos. These radical changes empowered Livorno as commercial port. Today the port of Livorno boasts the famous Cantiere Navale Orlando (Orlando shipyard). The naval academy of today was founded in the late XIXth century and one of its cadets was Manlio Garibaldi (Giuseppe Garibaldi's last-born child); for this reason, the Garibaldi family moved to Livorno. Nowadays the port of Livorno is divided into various wharves: Porto Mediceo, Varco Galvani, Sgarallino, Darsena Toscana, Molo Italia and Varco Velessini. Every year thousands of merchant ships and cruiser liners pass from the port of Livorno.
Important sights of the city:
- Cathedral of St Francesco: built in 1500 by Pieroni and located in Piazza Grande.
- The Churchof Santa Caterina: Octagonal plant church was built in the 18th century and is surmounted by a dome.
- The sanctuary of Montenero: The sanctuary, which has been a pilgrimage destination since the XVth century, is inhabited by the monks of Vallombrosa and has become a basilica. It has become a pilgrimage destination thanks to the legend of the lame man who allegedly found a painting of the Madonna where today the sanctuary is located. The legend also says that the man, pushed by a supernatural strength, was able to bring the painting on the hilltop. When he arrived on the top his leg was in perfect conditions. For this reason, at the foot of the hill, where the man found the painting, there is the Chapel of the Apparition. The Madonna of Montenero is the patron saint of Tuscany
- New Fortress (Fortezza Nuova): It was built by Bernardo Buontalenti in the XV century and the Old Fortress (Fortezza Vecchia), which dates back to the Roman Period and which was destroyed and restored many times. The today's one was designed by Antonio da San Gallo). Meloria Tower (Torre della Meloria): it was erected in front of the sea in order to recall the precise point where Pisa and Genoa fought the famous battle of Meloria in 1284. Marzocco Tower (Torre del Marzocco): it was in the XVth century by Alberti, when Livorno belonged to Florence. The tower rises 54 meters and is covered with marble.
Illustrious people from Livorno: Pietro Mascagni, Amedeo Modigliani, Giovanni Fattori, Giovanni Pascoli
Typical local dishes: Baccalà alla Livornese (dried salt cod), Cacciucco (spiced fish soup), all kinds of fish dishes.
Events in Livorno: - Effetto Venezia: Every summer, a series of performances and shows, cultural events and local street markets are held along the streets of the oldest district of the city, the Venice District (quartiere Venezia). - Tuffo di Capodanno (The Dive of New Year’s Day): on the 1st of January the most courageous and fearless people can dive into the sea. -Palio marinaro: it takes place in the part of the sea in front of Terrazza Mascagni.