| This
city is situated on the Tyrrhenian coast at the southern
edge of the Arno alluvial plain and is an important commercial
and industrial centre and port.
The harbor of Livorno
It was founded on a former auxiliary Pisan
port between 1576 and the early 17th century, on the orders
of the Grand Duke Cosimo I who made it Tuscany's main outlet
to the sea after the Pisan port was filled in. Originally
constructed to a pentagonal design and with a still visible
orthogonal street system, the town grew in the 19th century;
it suffered serious damage during the last War and now has
a modern appearance.
Monuments:
Fortezza Vecchia (16th century), church of S. Ferdinando
(Baroque, early 19th century), Porto Mediceo, Duomo (16th
century, reconstructed after the War), Monument to Ferdinando
I, called the `4 Moors' (17th century). As well as a busy
commercial port (one of the most important in Italy) and
facilitated by good motorway (Genoa-Leghorn) and rail links.
Economy: Leghorn
has a large industrial sector: shipyards, chemicals, petrochemicals
(refineries), engineering and canning. There are considerable
tourism centres around the seaside resorts of Ardenza, Antignano
and Quercianella.
Events: Palio
Marinaro (July), A. Modigliani Art Award.
Famous People:
Francesco Domenico Guerrazzi (writer and politician,
1804-1873), Dino Provenzal (writer, 1852-1922), Giovanni
Fattori (artist, 1825-1908), Amedeo Modigliani (artist,
1884-1920), Pietro Mascagni (musician, 1864-1945), Dario
Niccodemi (playwright, 1874-1934).
Cultural Institutions:
Guerrazzi Library, Giovanni Fattori Civic Museum (modern
paintings), Progressive Museum of Contemporary Art, State
Archives, Goldoni Theatre, Town Aquarium, Centre of Marine
Biology, Naval Academy.
PLACES OF CULT
The territory of Leghorn is full of historic and architectural
evidence of the religions practised here throughout the
centuries and co-existing in the city; there are in fact
many places
of cult of the various communities: Jewish, Greek, Armenian,
Dutch-Germanic and English.
PRINCIPAL CHURCHES - Very interesting from a historic-artistic
viewpoint
• Church of the Armenians - via della Madonna Erected
by Giovanni Del Fantasia in the XVIII century, it constitutes
an important testimony to the presence of Armenians in Leghorn.
Its interior was destroyed by bombing during the Second
World War, so now only the splendid baroque façade
can be admired.
• Church of the United Greeks - via della Madonna
Designed by Alessandro Pieroni during the XVII century,
it is one of the oldest churches in Leghorn. Its baroque
façade and its iconostasis in wood (1641) are valuable.
• Church of Luogo Pio - piazza del Luogo Pio Built
in the XVIII century and designed by Giovanni
Del Fantasia, it is a remarkable example of late baroque
art. Deconsecrated, it is now closed and being restored.
• Church of the Madonna - via della Madonna Built
in the XVII century and designed by Alessandro Pieroni,
it still has its original structure. The cloister too is
noteworthy, also by Pieroni.
• Church of the Dutch - Scali degli Olandesi A Testimony
to the “Flemish Nation”, present
in Leghorn since the seventeenth century, its was erected
in the XIX century.
• Church of Saint Catherine - piazza dei Domenicani
With its octagonal shape, designed by the architect Giovanni
Del Fantasia, it was officially inaugurated in 1755. Inside,
there is a large altarpiece by Giorgio Vasari, representing
the crowning of the Virgin, and frescos by Terreni and Traballesi.
• Church of Saint Ferdinand - piazza Anita Garibaldi
An example of late baroque art, it was built in the XVIII
century for the Trinitarian Fathers. It is also known as
church “of the little cross”,
and is interesting because of its sculptures, by Giovanni
Baratta from Carrara.
• Church of Saint Julia - via Santa Giulia Dedicated
to Saint Julia, patron saint of Leghorn, it was build in
1602-1603 on the orders of Ferdinando I dei Medici, grand-duke
of Tuscany. There is a valuable Giotto-School painting above
the main altar.
• Church of Saint Jacopo in Acquaviva - piazza San
Jacopo in Acquaviva Erected on a fourth-century hermitage,
after much destruction and rebuilding it was enlarged and
oriented towards Leghorn, acquiring its present features,
between 1759 and 1762. On the orders of the Grand-Dukes
of Tuscany it became the first church of the Greek community.
From within one can access the nave and the crypt of the
previous Romanesque church.
• Cathedral - piazza Grande Building began in 1594
on a design by Alessandro Pieroni and continued under the
management of the architect Antonio Cantagallina; it was
completed
in 1606. Although it was totally rebuilt after bombings,
it still has its original structure.
• Sanctuary
of Montenero - piazza di Montenero Dedicated to the
Madonna of the Graces, patron of Tuscany, the Sanctuary
was built in the place where, in the XIV century, an oratory
had been erected, and obtained its present structure during
the last works of enlargement carried out between 1721 and
1774 and planned by Giovanni Del Fantasia.
• Israelite Temple - piazza Benamozegh The original
synagogue, built between 1591 and 1603, and among the most
beautiful in Europe, was completely destroyed by bombing
during the last world war. The new temple was rebuilt and
designed by the Roman architect Angelo Di Castro.
CEMETERIES
There are many cemeteries in Leghorn that are interesting
from a historic-artistic viewpoint,
a testimony to the presence of the various “Nations”.
• New Hebrew Cemetery (1898) - via Filzi
• Old Hebrew Cemetery (approx. 1840) - via Ippolito
Nievo
• Greek-Orthodox Cemetery (1840) - via Mastacchi
• Old English Cemetery (first half of the XVIII century)
- via Verdi
• New English Cemetery (1840) - via Mastacchi - via
Pera
• Dutch-Germanic Cemetery (1840) - via Mastacchi
In the Province:
Piombino (iron and steel works), Rosignano Marittimo
(chemical factories), Populonia (Etruscan museum and necropolis),
Campiglia Marittima (environmental interest), Castiglioncello
(seaside resort), Island
of Elba. |
