Summer in Livorno: Sea by day, Music by night22 June 2008.

Sea by day, music by night

While the focus in Livorno is definitely on Sun Sea and Sand during the long summer days, there is an incredible variety of events going on when the sun goes down, offering something to suit all tastes, but with a particular emphasis on music.

Major Music Festivals in Livorno 

For a start, there are three major music festivals, kicking off with the Livorno Rock Village on July 3rd. Two days to get your breath back, and then it's time for the international Italia Wave Festival, using Livorno as its venue for the first time this year and running for four days from July 16th, bringing with it British bands The Verve, The Wombats and The Chemical Brothers as well as many other Italian and international artists. Then, just when you thought the party was over, after Ferragosto on 16th August come two days of Surf Music with the Surfer Joe Summer Festival in a cool seaside location at Calafuria.

Effetto Venezia and Premio Rotonda

Summer in Livorno wouldn't be complete without the annual Effetto Venezia festival, offering art, music, theatre and a whole range of entertainment in Livorno's historic Venezia district along the canals, running every evening from 1st August for ten days. And another traditional summer event in Livorno is the Premio Rotonda exhibition of contemporary art at the Rotonda in Ardenza, from 9th August.

Nightly entertainment, from cinema to cabaret

Around these music festivals there are plenty of other things going on too. Open-air cinema at the Arena Fabbricotti, the Arena Meta and the Ardenza cinemas, every night until early September, nightly entertainment, from rock to jazz to classical to cabaret, at the Fortezza Vecchia, Friday night music and cabaret at the Maroccone Beach Club, and of course Livorno's traditional rowing races, culminating in the most important Palio Marinaro.

To find out more about any of these events, see the What's on pages on Livorno Now.