Awaiting Your Return From Shore |
Livorno serves as a convenient gateway to the Tuscany region.
Visitors come to see the great art centers of Florence, Lucca, and Pisa.
Lucca, the provincial capital, is one of the most handsome
Romanesque cities in Europe. It is especially known for its medieval
ramparts, allowing one to walk around the whole circuit.
If you have never been to Florence,
you must go. Prioritize your visit (or choose your tour) to do those things
you most wish to do: shop, see Michelangelo's statue of David at the
Accademia, see the Birth of Venus and Caravaggio's Bacchus in
the Uffizi Gallery, or just walk, window shop, and have a gelato. Keep in
mind that there are frequently long lines to enter museums and monuments
(particularly the Accademia), but there are also occasions when there are no
lines and few visitors. Some museums are closed during lunch (and
unannounced strikes).
Shopping
Leather articles, shoes, silk scarves and ties, along with chic fashions
for men and women, can be found in numerous elegant stores. In Florence,
shopping streets worth exploring include the Via Tornabuoni, Via de'
Calzaiuoli and Via Strozzi. The Ponte Vecchio is noted for its
silversmiths and jewelry shops. In Livorno, a number of good shops can
be found along the Via Grande, the city's main street.
Cuisine. Tuscan cooking is hearty and
delicious. Enjoy a Florentine steak or tender veal, following a
mouth-watering plate of pasta. A glass of Chianti Classico will go
nicely with your meal. In Livorno, dine in the main hotels or local
trattorias. In Florence, side streets leading off the main squares offer
endless dining opportunities.
Other Sights
Internet Connection. There is an internet cafe in downtown
Livorno between Via Galilei and Via Garibaldi.
Golf. The Cosmopolitan
Country Club is one of the most competitive courses in Tuscany. Voted
best new golf course in Italy in 1993, it is a "must play" for the
golfing enthusiast. |
Awaiting Your Return
From Shore |