The city of Livorno and its surrounding province are home to many fascinating places to visit, often little known and perfect if you’re looking to experience something different. Hotel I Ginepri is also located in the province of Livorno, and with this post we’d like to take you on a journey to discover 10 unmissable places and suggest a few things to do while staying with us.
There’s something for everyone… Let’s go!
1. Livorno and its “Little Venice”
Let’s start with Livorno itself, which is often unfairly considered just a stopover city but is well worth exploring at a slower pace. One of the city’s most famous landmarks is the Terrazza Mascagni, a large scenic square overlooking the sea where you can enjoy a relaxing stroll just steps from the water.
Then head to the historic district known as the Venezia Nuova, so called because of the canals that run through it and give the area its distinctive character.
A fun experience is exploring the city by boat, but if you like to walk you can head to the Mercato Centrale di Livorno (also known as the Mercato delle Vettovaglie) to try a typical local snack: “cinque e cinque”, a sandwich made with focaccia and chickpea flour cake (cecina).
You can continue your visit with the famous Monumento dei Quattro Mori, the Fortezza Vecchia and Fortezza Nuova, Via Grande and Piazza della Repubblica… there is plenty to see in Livorno!
2. Baratti and Populonia Archaeological Park
The Parco Archeologico di Baratti e Populonia stretches between the slopes of the Piombino promontory and the Gulf of Baratti. It includes the area where the ancient Etruscan and Roman city of Populonia once stood, famous since antiquity for its intense metalworking and iron production.
A visit to this park perfectly combines history, culture and nature. The burial sites overlook the gulf, and Etruscan tombs carved into the rock lie immersed in Mediterranean vegetation.
In the lower part of the park you can explore the Necropoli di San Cerbone, while the upper area hosts the acropolis of Populonia. It’s an ideal destination for lovers of history, nature and hiking.
3. Bolgheri
Bolgheri is an essential stop for anyone who loves good food and great wine—but even if gastronomy isn’t your main interest, you won’t be disappointed.
The village is famous for the Viale dei Cipressi, a 5-kilometre avenue of cypress trees immortalized in a poem by Giosuè Carducci, as well as its charming historic center.
At the entrance to the village you’ll be welcomed by the red-brick Castello di Bolgheri. Passing through the gate beneath its tower leads you into a small village of stone houses, artisan shops and wine bars.
Don’t miss the medieval Chiesa dei Santi Giacomo e Cristoforo in Piazza Teresa, and in Piazza Alberto—the main square—you’ll find the house where the poet Carducci lived as a child and the statue of his grandmother Lucia.
4. Castagneto Carducci
Another well-known village along the Costa degli Etruschi is Castagneto Carducci, perched on a hill about ten kilometres from the sea.
The town developed around its imposing medieval castle which, together with the Chiesa di San Lorenzo, represents the oldest buildings in the village.
Visitors can explore Casa Carducci, where the poet once lived, and access an archive of poems and historical documents. Another place worth seeing is the Chiesa del Santissimo Crocifisso, home to a 15th-century wooden crucifix.
5. Suvereto
Suvereto is a medieval village in the Val di Cornia and is listed among the most beautiful villages in Italy, as well as awarded with the Orange Flag by the Touring Club Italiano.
Surrounded by walls, Suvereto features a historic center of stone houses and noble palaces, many dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries when the village was a fief of the Aldobrandeschi.
Highlights include the Palazzo Comunale di Suvereto, the Pieve di San Giusto, the Museo di Arte Sacra di San Michele, the Chiesa della Madonna di Sopra la Porta, and the Rocca Aldobrandesca di Suvereto.
6. San Silvestro Archaeological Mining Park
If you’re travelling with children, don’t miss the surprising Parco Archeominerario di San Silvestro in Campiglia Marittima.
Here you’ll find museums, mining tunnels and a medieval village founded around a thousand years ago by miners and metalworkers.
You can explore the tunnels of the Miniera del Temperino, visit the Mining Machinery Museum and the Miners’ Museum, ride a small yellow train through the Lanzi-Temperino tunnel and discover the remains of the medieval Rocca San Silvestro, the heart of the park.
7. Castiglioncello
Castiglioncello, a small coastal village in the municipality of Rosignano Marittimo, began as a simple fishing village and became famous in the 1960s when celebrated actors such as Alberto Sordi and Marcello Mastroianni chose it as their summer retreat.
Besides its beautiful sea, Castiglioncello offers stunning views and lovely shaded pine forests.
Notable landmarks include Castello Pasquini and the Torre Medicea di Castiglioncello. The area is also famous for the beaches of the Baia del Quercetano.
8. A Day at the Thermal Baths
The province of Livorno offers several options for spa lovers, thanks to thermal springs dating back to the Etruscan era.
Among the best-known facilities are the Terme di Sassetta, the Calidario Terme Etrusche in Venturina Terme, and the Terme di San Giovanni on the Isola d’Elba.
Here you can enjoy mud therapy, thermal baths and spa treatments while relaxing and benefiting from the healing properties of the water.
9. Gallorose Park
Parco Gallorose, located in Cecina, is a green oasis covering about five hectares.
Opened in 2001 and expanded in 2006, the park hosts more than 150 species of wild animals and domestic breeds among olive trees and Mediterranean vegetation.
The park is divided into two areas: the Zoological Park, dedicated to wild species, and the Farm, which focuses on domestic breeds—especially ancient ones that are often forgotten in modern intensive farming.
10. The Islands of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park
The Parco Nazionale Arcipelago Toscano consists of seven main islands, several of which belong to the province of Livorno.
The largest island is Isola d’Elba, but the archipelago also includes Capraia, Montecristo, Pianosa and Gorgona, as well as Isola del Giglio and Giannutri.
These islands differ greatly in landscapes, vegetation, culture, history and art. All of them can be visited, although access is regulated and some require advance booking. Many excursions depart from the port of Piombino.
[Pic by: Marco Frosini on Pixabay]