Boat Trips along the Canals of Livorno

The Boat Trip on the Fossi of LivornoOne of the best and most relaxing ways to see Livorno and to understand the layout of the city is to take a boat trip along the canals, or fossi, as they are called by the locals.

The tour, with commentary, offers an interesting perspective of the city and takes you round the Fosso Reale ('royal canal'), past the Fortezza Nuova ('new fortress') and right under the Piazza della Repubblica, previously called 'Il Voltone' or the 'big bridge' which is effectively what it is.

 A fosso in Italian is a moat, and the main waterways that cross Livorno were in fact originally the defensive moats around the old walls of the city. They later took on an important commercial role in the transportation of goods on barges from the big ships to the warehouses situated along the canals, especially in the Nuova Venezia quarter.

Under Piazza della Repubblica

Tickets for the boat trip cost 10-12 euros (see below) and are available from the Tourist Information office in Via Pieroni. In 2012 two different tours are being offered:

The standard trip of the canals at 12.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm

Canal trip with market tour (12 euros), at 10.30am and 11.30am.