The best city hikes and walks around Area Marina Protetta Secche della Meloria

Interesting fact: It was from here that both Giovanni da Verrazzano and Amerigo Vespucci set sail in the 16th century, crossing the Atlantic to reach the new continent. This was also the port where the fleet of the Knights of Santo Stefano, the religious order of chivalry founded by Cosimo de' Medici to counter the raids of the Barbary pirates who plagued the Mediterranean, was moored. Here, in a lavish ceremony, Maria de' Medici embarked to marry Henry IV, King of France. Galileo also came here to test how the telescope he had perfected could be used aboard a ship in rough seas, but an exceptional calm thwarted his attempt.

Beautiful little canals

We were early at the ferry and went to the old town to get something to eat. It's best to ask someone who already has food about the quality. There are "tourist traps" that serve mediocre food.

Fortezza Vecchia of Livorno A journey through time to discover Livorno's past Crossing the threshold of the Old Fortress, sister of the younger New Fortress, you will be transported back in time, to the very place where the first nucleus of the city was born and developed. Built in the sixteenth century by order of Cosimo I De' Medici, this architectural jewel is a real treasure trove of hidden treasures and in reality much more than a simple military fortress. We are dealing with the true guardian of Livorno's roots. The massive red walls, the imposing ramparts rising from the sea, the towers, the coats of arms, the tombstones and the marble details of this Renaissance work of art tell in fact of a past of greatness and resistance, revealing the genius and deeds of the men who shared its history. From the top of the walls you can also enjoy a breathtaking view. You will see Livorno and its port from a unique perspective, while on the horizon the Tyrrhenian Sea spreads out and gets lost in the blue sky. A fortress with the history of Livorno inside The Old Fortress was built starting in 1519 on a project by one of the most famous military architects of the time, Antonio da Sangallo the Elder, and is characterized by an asymmetrical structure that includes three large bastions: that of the Ampolletta, facing the city, that of the Canaviglia towards the port and that of the Capitana to the north-east. The internal structure is a real cross-section of the history of the city: it includes the remains of the medieval tower with a square plan (around 1077) that marked the first port of Livorno, the keep of Mathilda (around 1241) and the fortification walls of the ancient Quadratura dei Pisani, still visible (around 1377). From the Portus Pisanus to the Medici, from the Lorraine to the Napoleonic occupations, from the uprisings of the Risorgimento to the deep scars of the Second World War, the Old Fortress has accompanied Livorno and the people of Livorno in all eras, giving them the beloved certainty of an ever-present reference. Text / Source: Livorno Turistico, Largo del Cisternino, 13 - 57123 Livorno (LI) - Italy https://www.visit-livorno.it/attrazione/fortezza-vecchia/

Livorno's Old Fortress A journey through time to discover Livorno's past Crossing the threshold of the Old Fortress, sister to the younger New Fortress, you will be transported back in time to the very place where the city's first nucleus was born and developed. This architectural gem, built in the 16th century by order of Cosimo I de' Medici, is a true treasure trove of hidden treasures and, in fact, much more than a simple military fortress. We are dealing with the true guardian of Livorno's roots. The massive red walls, the imposing ramparts rising from the sea, the towers, the coats of arms, the tombstones, and the marble details of this Renaissance work of art truly speak of a past of greatness and resistance, revealing the genius and deeds of the men who shared its history. From the top of the walls, you can also enjoy breathtaking views. You'll admire Livorno and its harbor from a unique perspective, with the Tyrrhenian Sea stretching out on the horizon, disappearing into the blue sky. A fortress with Livorno's history within The Old Fortress, built starting in 1519 according to a design by one of the most famous military architects of the time, Antonio da Sangallo the Elder, is characterized by an asymmetrical structure comprising three large bastions: the Ampolletta bastion, facing the city, the Canaviglia bastion, facing the harbor, and the Capitana bastion, to the northeast. The interior structure is a true cross-section of the city's history: it includes the remains of the medieval square-plan tower (c. 1077) that marked Livorno's first harbor, the Keep of Matilda (c. 1241), and the fortification walls of the ancient Quadratura dei Pisani, still visible (c. 1377). From the Portus Pisanus to the Medici, from the Lorraine to the Napoleonic occupations, from the uprisings of the Risorgimento to the deep scars of World War II, the Old Fortress has accompanied Livorno and its inhabitants throughout all eras, providing them with the cherished certainty of an ever-present reference. Text / Source: Livorno Turistico, Largo del Cisternino, 13 - 57123 Livorno (LI) - Italy https://www.visit-livorno.it/attrazione/fortezza-vecchia/

The extensive canals are somewhat reminiscent of Venice.

Giovanni Baratta came from a family of sculptors from Carrara. He was the son of Isidoro Baratta and nephew of Francesco Baratta the Elder (around 1595–1666) and Giovanni Maria Baratta (around 1627–1675). His brothers Francesco Baratta the Younger (1663–1729) and Pietro Baratta (1668–1729) were also sculptors. His nephew Giovanni Antonio Cybei (1706–1784) worked for him as an assistant and took over his uncle's studio after his death.

The New Fortress is a fortification in Livorno, Italy. It represents the ancient "Bastion of Saint Francis" of the pentagonal city, designed by Bernardo Buontalenti, which originally also included the "Bastion of Santa Barbera" until it was partially dismantled to make way for the second growth of the New Venice district. It was part of the defensive system in the north-east of the city, represented by the symmetrical Fort of San Pietro d'Alcantara and the Rivellino di San Marco, located between the two fortifications, where the ancient Porta San Marco (Piazza dei Domenicani) opened.