Livorno Seafront Walk (Self Guided), Livorno

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 Scoglio della Regina (literally, “the Queen's rock”), a 19th-century bathing complex once patronized by the Queen of Etruria. Having checked that one out, you set foot on the palm-tree-lined, 19th-century promenade, known as Viale Italia, that follows the sea and runs parallel to the fields and surrounding landscape whilst being packed to the brim with various cafés, bars and restaurants on both sides.

A few more steps down the road put you in front of the splendid Terrazza Mascagni, a sweeping balustraded terrace overlooking the sea, much loved by the local families. At the north end of it sits the Aquarium of Livorno, reopened in 2010, following a major makeover.

Opposite the Terrazza you fill find one of Livorno's oldest hotels, the Hotel Palazzo, a massive building from the late 1800s that was once the city's most elegant and exclusive hotel.

A stone's throw away from it is the Bagni Pancaldi, one of oldest bathing lidos in Livorno, established in 1846, which is still quite popular in the city. A stroll past Pancaldi brings you to the square called Piazza San Jacopo in Acquaviva, with a bronze statue of Benedetto Brin, founder of the Naval Academy, in the middle.

Nearby stands the Church of San Jacopo, exposed to the wind and the sea. Right next to it is Livorno's Naval Academy which was founded in 1881 and is still one of the most important in Italy, training cadets for the Italian Navy.

For a more detailed acquaintance with the highlights of Livorno's waterfront, take this self-guided walk.