Livorno's Rioni

Antignano district

AntignanoThe Antignano Rione lies to the south of Livorno and has very ancient origins, its name appearing in documents dating from 1171. The village is probably even older, and for many centuries was isolated from Livorno, finally getting a road connection in the 19th century.

Ardenza district

Ardenza - the Casini di ArdenzaThe village of Ardenza grew up gradually in the countryside to the south of Livorno at the beginning of the 19th century. Although the village was sparsely populated, it had its own church, San Simone, which was built in 1844.

Benci Centro District (Ovo Sodo)

Benci Centro was the new name given to this central part of Livorno by town planners to replace its old title - Rione del Mercato -, which is still sometimes used today. This central area of Livorno also has a nickname – Ovo Sodo (boiled egg) – because of the yellow and white jerseys worn by the rowing team. The name was adopted as the title of a film set in Livorno directed by the Livornese Paolo Virzì in 1997.

Borgo Cappuccini District ('Il Borgo')

Borgo Cappuccini ("Il Borgo")The Borgo district of Livorno grew up during the French occupation at the beginning of the 1800s in order to meet a demand for housing. It was called Borgo dei Cappuccini because the first houses to be built there were along the road that led to the Capuchin monks’ convent which dated from 1582.

Colline District

The Colline district of Livorno takes its name from the old Porta alle Colline, the Livorno customs gate which stood where Via Gramsci finishes today, near the hospital. Until the early 1900s this gateway was known in Livorno as the Porta ai Sughi because it was here, against the walls built by the Lorraines, that the local farms used to deposit their manure to be used later during the sowing season.

Fabbricotti District

Villa Fabbricotti park and libraryJust to the south of the centre of Livorno, the Fabbricotti district was once an area of gardens and quiet villas hidden behind high walls and woodland. It was transformed after 1946 into a modern residential district which grew up on land ceded by the Fabbricotti family to the local council.

Magenta and Origine district

The central Magenta district extends from the former Piazza Magenta (now Piazza della Vittoria) to Piazza Cavour and the Cisternone. From the 1700s much of this area was taken up by villas and houses with gardens and farmland, gradually ceded to the local council for the building of schools, streets and buildings for common public use.

Montenero

Funicular railway in MonteneroSituated on a hill to the south of Livorno, Montenero has been a destination for pilgrims since 1345, because of its Sanctuary dedicated to Santa Maria delle Grazie, also known as the Madonna di Montenero. Opposite the church is the ‘temple of fame’, closed in by a wrought iron gate, where several local figures are buried or remembered.

Pontino-San Marco District

Via Castelli, Pontino districtThe Pontino-San Marco district extends to the north-west of the city, occupying a vast area with a network of streets that echoes Buontalenti’s original street layout when he designed the city for the Medici in the 16th century.

Quercianella

QuercianellaAlthough not strictly part of Livorno itself, the small seaside village of Quercianella lies about 20km south of the city. It is popular with locals because of its quiet marina for swimming and sunbathing, and it's also a popular spot for evening strolls.