The Best of Livorno Italy

The Best of Livorno Italy – Any seafood lover should consider a visit to Livorno, and especially the restaurants. Tuscany’s largest port and third-largest city is has a colorful history and cosmopolitan heritage. Declared a free port in the 17th century, Livorno (Leghorn in English) attracted traders from across the globe, who brought with them new customs and habits, exotic goods, slaves and foreign forms of worship. The result was a city famed throughout Europe for its multiculturalism. Today its seafood is the best on the Tyrrhenian coast, its shabby historic quarter threaded with Venetian-style canals is full of character, and its elegant belle époque buildings offer evocative reminders of a prosperous past. An easy train trip from Florence, Pisa and Rome, it makes an understated but undeniably worthwhile stop on any Tuscan itinerary. Visit our Ultimate Western Mediterranean Cruise Guide here, or visit us on Pinterest.

Livorno Weather – When to Visit Livorno

During spring (March – May), temperatures starts to get warmer with very little activity on the beach front. Spring makes for a perfect setting for photographers, professionals and amateurs with flowers in full bloom, adding color to Livorno. Summer (June to early September) is the best time to visit Livorno. This is peak season, so you will have crowds. Flights and accommodations should be booked well in advance for a vacation to Livorno in the summer. Summer temperatures average 77°F to a high of 82°F and low of 65°F. During autumn (late September – early November) the temperatures start to drop, and there are some occasional rains. This is harvest season, so plenty of fresh produce in the markets.

Top 5 Livorno Beaches

Bagno Altamarea

The site is well known because of the quite atmosphere and the beach with calm sea allowing to swim for family and small children. Find umbrellas, chairs, showers, cabins, pedal boats, and canoes.

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Spiaggia di Capo Bianco

Capo Bianco is on the northern side of the Island of Elba. Thanks to its unique beauty, it is one of the best loved beaches. There are white, almost blinding cliffs at the back of the beach that seem to plunge right into the turquoise water, in a magical combination of colors.

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Spiaggia di Sansone

This enchanting beach consisting of white pebbles and shingle is considered one of the most beautiful beaches on the Island of Elba. Just off the steep, white cliffs that are so typical of the northern side of the island, from Capo Bianco to Capo Enfola, the water in this beach is unique and unbelievably clear.

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Dog Beach San Vincenzo

The kids will sleep soundly after playing by the water at Dog Beach San Vincenzo. Hunt for washed up treasures, dip a toe in the water or throw a ball around! Very clean beach, friendly people and lots of dogs. Never a problem with aggression or such, plus, there is a bar at the beach.

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Bagno Donna di Cuori

You will find beach umbrellas, sunbeds and cabins on this beach. It’s a nice sandy blue flag beach for its cleanliness and the attention to hospitality and accessibility. It is also great for families with shallow calm waters. Water sports are also available here and dogs are welcome!

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Top 5 Livorno Restaurants

Scom Posto $10 & Under

Everything about this water-edge bistro is sassy, fresh and on trend. Plump for a place around one huge long shared table outside or enjoy the romance of a candlelit, vaulted red-brick interior. Furnishings are crafted from chipboard and the dining choice is simple: Chianina beef tartare, cheese and salami platters, or gourmet schiacciate (sandwiches) already assembled or served loose on a wooden board. Telephone:
0586 88 75 96 Web: Scom Posto

La Barrocciaia $10 & Under

Locals speak of La Barrocciaia with great fondness – partly because of a homely interior that’s alive with banter, but also because of its simple but flavour-packed food. Stews fluctuate between wild boar and cacciucco, there’s always a choice of mare (sea) or terra (land) antipasti and it’s perfectly acceptable to drop in for a simple panino (sandwich) and glass of wine. Telephone: 0586 88 26 37 Web: La Barrocciaia

Alle Vettovaglie $10 & Under

This wine bar in the historic Mercato Centrale has a menu that changes according to what product is fresh and plentiful on that particular day. It is just as likely to feature triglie alla livornese (mullet in tomato sauce) as it is pasta with an aromatic pesto. They also offer an impressive wine selection. Telephone: 3477 48 70 20 Web: Alle Vettovaglie

Cantina Nardi $11 – 30

They’ve been in business since 1965, so the friendly Nardis know how to keep their customers happy. As much an enoteca (wine bar) as Slow Food–hailed eatery, Cantina Nardi has a 400-bottle wine list and an amazing 100 wines are offered by the glass. It is one of the city’s best aperitivo spots, so come sit between bottle-filled shelves inside, or at a street-side table. Telephone: 0586 80 80 06 Web: Cantina Nardi

Antica Torteria Al Mercato da Gagarin $10 & Under

There is no finer blast to old-world Livorno than this retro snack bar, that has changed little since its 1959 opening. Push through the plastic fly-net veiling the unmarked door and order the house specialty: a sensational ‘five and five’ sandwich (ask for a cinque e cinque) stuffed with scrumptious torta di ceci (chickpea pancake, fried in peanut oil and salted). Telephone: 0586 88 40 86 Web: Antica Torteria Al Mercato da Gagarin

Best Livorno Nightlife

Sketch

With a cocktail menu designed like a beautiful book featuring hand-drawn illustrations, and a dynamic mixologist happy to also create off-list, cocktail lovers won’t be disappointed. Craft cocktails (€8-12) mix homemade syrups and some unusual bitters with bespoke spirits. Telephone: 3337 54 12 00 Web: Sketch

Bad Elf

A couple of hip waterfront bars speck the canals in Piccolo Venezia – hugely atmospheric in summer when the drinking action spills outside. ‘Food, Beer & Vinyls’ is the thrust behind the Bad Elf where craft-beer lovers can agonize over some 90 different brews to try, including homegrown labels from Tuscany and several from independent Belgian and British breweries. Telephone: 3518 45 60 07 Web: Bad Elf

La Bodeguita

This cool cellar bar has a sun-drenched wooden-decking terrace afloat the canal in Piccolo Venezia. Enjoy a cocktail and generously topped bruschetta while members of the local rowing club ply the water with oars in front of you, or join the city’s younger set as they party here on Friday and Saturday nights. There are live bands afloat at weekends. Telephone: 3466 10 08 32 Web: La Bodeguita

Le Botteghe & Makutu Tiki Bar

Live music, craft beer, creative bar cuisine and fabulous cocktails lure a local party set to this red-brick cellar bar, right by a canal in Piccola Venezia. Sultry summer nights are particularly fun when the drinking and dancing action spills onto the quayside in front. Telephone: 3466 21 78 84 Web: Le Botteghe & Makutu Tiki Bar

The Best Livorno Italy Hotels