Fortezza Nuova (New Fort), Livorno

Fortezza Nuova (New Fort), Livorno (must see)

Cosimo I and his son, Francesco I de Medici, commissioned a lot of work to Bernardo Buontalenti. Buontalenti was a renaissance man with many talents. He was a stage designer, architect, theater designer, military engineer, and artist. But best of all (to some), he invented Italian ice cream (gelato). In 1575 he made a plan to remake Livorno.

His plan was called the Buontalenti Pentagon. It enclosed the old city and its Old Fort within a pentagonal system of canals. Buontalenti's plan became the New Fort by adjusting the San Francesco Rampart and the Santa Barbara Rampart. The result vastly strengthened the military defensiveness of the town.

Buontalenti's project was further ameliorated by Don Giovanni de' Medici, Claudio Cogorano, and Alessandro Pieroni. The project was completed in 1604. Ferdinando II de Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, demolished part of the fortress in 1629 to facilitate the building of the New Venice and San Marco commercial centers of the city.

The New Fort was a military facility until the end of World War II. It had barracks for personnel and a chapel dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. The fort suffered severe damages in the war, and it was restored by 1972. Presently it serves as a public park and as an events venue.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Livorno. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Fortezza Nuova (New Fort) on Map

Sight Name: Fortezza Nuova (New Fort)
Sight Location: Livorno, Italy (See walking tours in Livorno)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Livorno, Italy

Create Your Own Walk in Livorno

Create Your Own Walk in Livorno

Creating your own self-guided walk in Livorno is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Livorno Seafront Walk

Livorno Seafront Walk

When the weather permits and you fancy a walk, whilst in Livorno, taking a stroll along the local seafront is a good idea. The curvy walkway, running along the coast, south of the city, is dotted with numerous points of interest. The first of them, marking the outset of the long stretch of intriguing sights further ahead, is the former Orlando shipyard.

Practically next door to it is the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Livorno Introduction Walking Tour

Livorno Introduction Walking Tour

In the early 19th century, Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first person born in the United States to be canonized a saint, had a spiritual epiphany while visiting Livorno. The city has had similar effects on visitors and immigrants. Under Medici rule, people of every ethnicity and calling would come to Livorno to find prosperity and tolerance.

There have been settlements in the Livorno area since...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles