Livorno

 The most common thing to do when a ship stops in Livorno is to go to Florence and/or Pisa.  It's about an hour away from the port and usually the excursion is quite expensive. We had already visited Florence and Pisa twice, and although the ship docks in Livorno, we had never spent any time in this town itself.

We were still feeling the effects of the busy touring schedule from the past two weeks, so we decided to opt for a quieter day.  We slept in (as much as one can on a ship with 2000 other people around, announcements being made, and doors slamming EVERYWHERE.) We decided we would take advantage of the free shuttle and just go into the Livorno City Centre.

The plan was to wander - and to do a little shopping. John realized in the morning that he had left some of his clothes in Prague (all his shorts, socks, bathing suit, and two pairs of new slacks) so we needed to try and find some replacements to get him through the next two weeks.

It was nice to have a quiet day with no agenda. It was something we hadn't had on this trip yet. 

Livorno is one of central Italy's main economic hubs with its massive, modern seaport. Walking through the Quartiere Venenzia there were only a few tourists (as many pass through on their way to Florence, Tuscany, or Pisa). The local people were going about their business and it was pleasant to walk around and observe what was happening around us

While we walked it is easy to stumble upon historical treasures.

In the Quartiere Venezia, we discovered canals, bridges, and waterways, reminiscent of Venice, but on a much smaller scale. The area was charming, with boats moored along the canals and colorful buildings lining the waterway.

While exploring, we also found the Fortezza Nuova, a 16th-century fortress originally built to bolster the city's defenses. Today it is used a public park for all to enjoy. Unfortunately, it was closed the day we visited, so we couldn’t go inside to explore.

As we continued our walk, we came across a building that stood out from the rest. Looking rather futuristic, it turned out to be the New Synagogue of Livorno. Designed in the modernist style, it was completed in 1922.

While Livorno dulled in comparison to the other stops we've made during out trip so far, it ended up being just what we needed - a relaxing day to just wander. It was a pleasure to discover a port town that had previously only been a brief stopover for us.