Old Fortress, Livorno

Pretty big fortress. I think it was built in 13 century. There's lots to see inside. Free acces, lots of information in English. There are several free WCs inside and a cafe. Must see. Almost every day around 9 pm there is a disco or a concert there. Check their calendar for events schedule.

The Fortezza Vecchia ("Old Fortress") is located right on the waterfront, next to the old port, and once protected the city. Its walls offer spectacular views of the city, boats, harbor, and open sea. The fortress dates back to Roman times and was designed as a fortress as early as the early 11th century. Over the past 1,000 years, it has developed and grown, with layers upon layers of construction – from Roman remains, through the Middle Ages, to the major changes made during the Renaissance by the Medici family. The entrance to the fortress is via an underground passageway that leads up into the building itself. The Matilde Tower (Mastio di Matilde) is the fortress's most prominent landmark. The fortress is not accessible or fully restored, but a visit to it leaves a huge impression. It often hosts events, exhibitions and cultural activities, connecting the history The Fortezza Vecchia is not square, pentagonal or round. It is built from a series of walls - some of which overlook the sea. It is partly surrounded by canals, making it a kind of island.

The Fortezza Vecchia stands as one of Livorno's primary attractions, alongside Terrazza Mascagni and the Venezia Nuova neighborhood. Visiting at sunset is highly recommended; the fading sun over the sea, combined with the dim light on its interior walls, creates a truly charming atmosphere. Entrance is free, as the fortress now serves as a public space for relaxation. Interestingly, part of the edifice was constructed using local yellowish sandstone ('pietra panchina'). This natural building material seems now exhausted.

FREE SPOT! Worth checking out as they even have a restaurant/bar inside and live music in certain nights too. The sunset from here was breathtaking and peaceful.

Nice place for walk. Inside is cafe where you can enjoy a drink.

A great place for a walk, free entrance, you can feel the spirit of history

Fantastic place to visit. Free entry. Many events during the summer months. Pub and toilets on the side.

I loved walking around inside the old Fort. They were setting up for a concert on the back patio. The old crumbling church is fun to go inside. And you can go up to the top platform to look out around the city and port. See photos:

Wow, lots of history here. It use to be a military base and prison. During WWII it was subjected to 1000 bombs alerts with only 100 actual bombings. In 1948 the fort was restored to what is today,