Mura Leopoldine (Leopoldine Walls), Livorno

The Leopoldine Walls (Mura Leopoldine), also known as the Lorraine Walls, were constructed in the 19th century to define the boundaries of Livorno’s free port. Initially built for customs purposes, these walls played a significant role in the city’s economy and defense. Grand Duke Leopold II of Lorraine, responding to the requests of merchants eager to benefit from expanded trade opportunities, approved their construction in 1834. The walls aimed to curb smuggling and encompassed the city center and its growing suburbs.

Work on the Leopoldine Walls began in 1835, under the supervision of engineer Alessandro Manetti, with architect Carlo Reishammer contributing to the design of gates and access points. Stretching about 6 kilometers, the walls connected key points in the city, including Fort San Pietro to the north and Mazzini Square (Piazza Mazzini) to the southwest. The walls were topped with crenelated brick to thwart smuggling activities, making it difficult to use ropes for illegal trade.

Despite their primary function as customs boundaries, the walls were briefly used for defense during an 1849 uprising against the Austrian forces occupying Livorno. Later, even with the abolition of the free port in 1868, the walls continued to serve a municipal duty function.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the walls were partially demolished to accommodate urban expansion and new transportation routes. By 1912, many sections had been removed, though portions near the port and a small surviving tower at Porta a Mare remained intact. Bombing during World War II and subsequent neglect further diminished the structure, but efforts in the early 2000s led to the preservation and integration of some sections into public green spaces.