The Gorgeous City of Livorno (And its Best Italian Wine)

Tuscany…

Of all of the wine regions in Italy, few have achieved my fame than Tuscany. It is home to some of the greatest Italian wines ever produced, with Chianti obviously being the standout. It is also a gorgeous region filled with lush countryside, interesting architecture, and a culture that is so unique to this relatively small parcel of land.

Yet, when we speak about Tuscany, we often speak of the region as a whole.

This means we tend to place little focus on the gorgeous villages and cities that give the region its character.

We’re going to change that in this article.

The question now is which Tuscan city are we going to choose to highlight?

There are so many wonderful towns and cities in Tuscany that should make this a difficult choice. But our hearts immediately jumped to the city that many called the “Tuscan Venice”.

The Beautiful City of Livorno

Nestled on Tuscany’s western coast, Livorno sits on the Ligurian sea and is one of the most important port cities of Italy. For centuries, traders and ships have moved in and out of the country from Livorno, making it a crucial part of Italy’s global trade efforts to this day.

However, Livorno is also quite unlike many of the towns in Tuscany.

Where so many towns in the region show plenty of signs of their medieval history, Livorno is like a modern playground. Part of the reason for this comes down to the fact that the city has developed alongside various trading booms. However, we also have World War II to thank for destroying much of the gorgeous medieval architecture that the city once housed. As a port city, Livorno was a focus for many bombing raids and attacks. And while some pieces of ancient Tuscan architecture still stand in the city, the devastation caused by this bombing has forced Livorno to modernise more rapidly than many of the towns that surround it.

That isn’t to say that Livorno is not a fascinating place to visit.

As a port city, it has welcomed people from all cultures for centuries. This, of course, has had an impact on the local culture. People from all over the world have settled in Livorno. However, even the locals have picked up many traditions from those who have visited the town, making Livorno something of a melting pot of European cultures.

It is also a city with a deep history.

Some claim that settlers have lived in the area we now call Livorno since prehistoric times. We know for certain that both the ancient Romans and Etruscans considered it to be an important city, as there are elements of the architecture of both cultures that can still be found in Livorno.

But Livorno started to truly take shape into the city it is today during the 16^th century.

It was during this period that the famous Medici family started pouring funds into the development of the city. It is thanks to them that Livorno became such a crucial Italian port. That even commissioned the revered artist Buontalenti to design the fortifications around the city. Some of his work still exists today, though much was destroyed during the Second World War.

And then, there is La Venezia.

The name alone should clue you into why many consider Livorno the Venice of Tuscany. La Venezia is much like the real Venice, as it features a network of canals, many of which date back to the Medici era that we spoke of earlier. Le Venezia is also the location of Livorno’s most famous festival. Every summer, crowds gather for the Effetto Venezia, which hosts musical, cultural, and theatrical performances against a backdrop of feasting and drinking wonderful Italian wines. 

Being a port city, Livorno is also famous for its seafood. The many cultures that have crossed through this city have had an enormous influence on the food that the local restaurants produce. As such, foodies will find there is a huge variety of dishes to enjoy, should they be willing to explore a little. Of course, sunseekers will also be delighted with the many beaches that line Livorno’s coast.

As a tourist destination, Livorno truly has it all. You can even catch ferries to visit the gorgeous islands of Corsica and Sardinia, alongside other islands in the Tuscan archipelago. 

Of course, there’s one area that we haven’t covered yet.

And it’s the area that you, as an Italian wine love, are likely most interested in.

The Wines of Livorno

You may remember that we wrote a few features about the gorgeous Sassicaia wines a few weeks ago. One of these wines was recently voted the best in the world. But even without that vote, this particular wine has long been revered as one of the most stunning that Italy has to offer.

And Livorno is its home.

While many of the other towns and cities in Tuscany find fame because of the quality of their Chianti, Livorno sets itself apart with a wine that few others can measure up to.

Sassicaia is revered by many as one of the best examples of Cabernet Sauvignon in the world. 

The quality of this wine is such that it has been granted its very own DOC. This is a rarity in the Italian wine world, as DOCs are generally granted for specific types of wines that multiple producers make. However, Sassicaia is the product of a single winemaker. And it is so good that the Italian wine authorities have honoured it with a certification that no other individual wine has ever been given.

So, Livorno may be one of the most important cities in Italian wine.

The drinks produced there are of amazing quality, likely thanks to the many cultures that have passed through this gorgeous port city.

As a visitor, you will marvel at the architecture, enjoy the gorgeous beaches, and experience the Venice outside of Venice.

But it is the gorgeous seafood, alongside the stunning Sassicaia wine, that will keep you coming back for more.