Things to Do in Livorno

Livorno is the ugly sister of the beautiful Tuscan city of Florence. Many tour itineraries will actually list Florence as the port of call because Livorno itself is a busy, modern container terminal with little to recommend it aside from its location. Within relatively easy reach of Livorno are Florence, the jewel of Renaissance Italy; Pisa, home of the famous Leaning Tower; Lucca, a smaller medieval walled city; the elite beach resort of Forte dei Marmi; and some fabulous discount shopping including the revered Prada Outlet not far from Florence. Visiting Florence is definitely a lifetime experience. The city is jam-packed with history, architectural and art treasures. And once you are there, you can walk the historic center easily, covering many of the highlights in a few hours. Make sure you eat gelati on the Ponte Vecchio crossing the Arno River, and visit either the Uffizi or Accademia Galleries to see the best of Renaissance art, especially Michelangelo.