On your next Livorno tours, you should take time to visit the Fortezza Vecchia, Livorno. While walking through Livorno you can take a look at the Fortezza Vecchia, Livorno (old fortress) and the Fortezza Nuova (new fortress) which overlook the Medicean port of Livorno at the northern end of Livorno's port.
The old fortress of Fortezza Vecchia, Livorno was built with red bricks in the sixteenth century to defend the port of Livorno. Antonio da Sangallo built it for Cardinal Giulio de' Médici ( later to become Pope) between 1521 to 1524. The fort is pentagonal and surrounded with moats. The Mástio di Matilde, remnant from a 11th century castle along with the strong ramparts (further strengthened for artillery batteries in the nineteenth century, the bastion names are Canaviglia, Ampolletta and Capitana) are the fort's highlights. The Fortezza Nuova made at the end of the sixteenth century is today a park.
In between the Fortezza Vecchia, Livorno and Fortezza Nuova is La Nuova Venezia or new Venice, a traditional haunt of the sailors since times immemorial. The area is a replica of real Venice and every year in summer, the festival "Effetto Venezia" with its street performances, musical concerts, theater and much more is held here. Here there are also some amazing canals which have survived from the sixteenth century when Cosimo I de' Medici wanted Florence, Pisa and Livorno connected by canals and in Livorno, he wanted the port connected to the warehouses of the city's merchants. The La Nuova Venezia also has the Saint Catherine Church, whose apse contains Vasari's Coronation of Blessed Virgin.
The Fortezza Vecchia, Livorno shall always remain one of the quieter Tourist Attractions in Livorno. You are requested to visit it while in Livorno.
Travel.mapsofworld.com provides description of Fortezza Vecchia, Livorno
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