Livorno – Italy Cruise Tour Information

LIVORNO (PISA ) – FLORENCE, ITALY

One of Italy’s oldest port cities, Livorno is a small but historically rich city. Check out the red-hued Fortezza Nuova, a 16th-century fortress, and the surrounding area known as Nuova Venezia (“New Venice”), and take a mini-sailboat ride through its charming canals. Cruise to Livorno and use the city as your jumping-off point to the beauty of Tuscany: Take the 30-minute drive to Pisa and snap a quintessential picture with the city’s famous leaning tower. Or head to Florence — about an hour from Livorno by car or train — where you can see the unmistakable Duomo (“dome”) and the Byzantine-style frescoes of Saint John’s Baptistery.

THINGS TO DO IN LIVORNO (PISA )

RESPITE BY THE RIVER
Leave the tourist masses behind at the Leaning Tower on the Field of Miracles in Pisa and escape for a pleasant stroll along the banks of the Arno River. Admire the colors and architecture of the palazzi that line the southern riverside embankment, stop for a picnic with some simple focaccia bread, mozzarella and wine, and continue to Pisa’s medieval heart north of the water.

CITY PANORAMA
In Florence, hike up the 418-steps of the Torre d’Arnolfo tower, part of the Palazzo Vecchio. The fortress palace was built in the fourteenth century and is still Florence’s seat of power. Inside, admire Michelangelo’s Genio della Vittoria sculpture as well as several large paintings by other masters such as Giorgio Vasari.

MARBLE AND MONASTICISM
Visit Florence’s Basilica di Santa Maria Novella, with its eye-catching green-and-white marble facade. Inside the basilica, built between the 13th and 15th centuries, you’ll find countless artistic masterpieces, such as the frescoes by Domenico Ghirlandaio. Continue through a side door into the vast, serene monastic complex.

LOCAL CUISINE
Tuscans share a proud culinary tradition, with seasonal and sustainable quality ingredients sourced locally. Cruise to Livorno to sample a traditional bowl of earthy ribollita (bean, bread and vegetable soup) from a humble family-run eatery. Sample a bistecca alla fiorentina, or Florentine steak, cooked over roasted chestnuts to impart a smoky flavor. Or grab some salami, parmesan cheeses and biscotti for lunch from the Mercato Centrale.

SHOPPING
Ignore the souvenir shops around Pisa’s tower and head to the main shopping streets Corso Italia and Borgo Stretto, where you’ll find Italian fashion shops. In stylish Florence, homegrown designers include Guccio Gucci and Salvatore Ferragamo. During your Tuscany cruise, look for the workshops in the medieval alleys, with handcrafted jewelry and leather goods from shoes to purses.

On the west coast of Tuscany lies the cosmopolitan port city of Livorno, a Mediterranean Cruises destination. This Italian getaway is known for its historical architecture, sumptuous seafood, and checkboard waterside promenade.

Livorno is the perfect launch pad for visiting Tuscany’s beautiful art cities, Florence and Pisa. What’s more, you’ll find great natural environments, like Macchia della Magona, spread across the region.

Cruises excursions offer plenty of exciting things to see including:

Discover Tuscany
Florence
‘Cinque Terre’

Discover Tuscany on a Cruise excursion to Pisa, one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. Stop in Florence to admire the 15th-century Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore before exploring the magnificent neighbourhood. Next, drive along the coast to Pisa to marvel at Piazza dei Miracoli, the famous Leaning Tower, the 13th-century Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, and the Baptistery with its splendid Gothic façade.

Florence, capital city of the Tuscany region, is a star of Italian Renaissance. There’s plenty to discover on this fabulous Cruise excursion including fine food, masterpiece artworks, and ancient architecture. Admire the city from the panoramic Piazzale Michelangelo before visiting the 15th-century cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. See Piazza Santa Croce and its world-famous Basilica or take in works by Caravaggio, Raphael, and da Vinci and the prestigious Uffizi Gallery. Experience the atmosphere of Florence at your own pace, wandering around the artisan stores and chic boutiques. Or dine in one of the incredible restaurants for a bowl of pasta or authentic pizza.

Take the trip of a lifetime to Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Park. This lively area comprises of five coastal villages: Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore, Monterosso al Mare, and Vernazza. View these multi-coloured towns from the sea, on a boat ride along the rocky coast. Then, dock in Monterosso al Mare for a leisurely walk through the old town centre to visit San Giovanni Battista, a 14th-century church.