Day 430 Livorno & Montenero

 

Funny thing about being on a cruise, the port towns are typically overlooked for the more popular cities. Tim and I adored Florence but decided to stay close to the ship and explore what Livorno had to offer, we weren’t disappointed! It was an easy trip into town where we purchased bus tickets to tour the city. These bus tours allow you the flexibility of jumping off at any stop and jumping back on when you’re ready. On the third stop there was a cable car that brought you to the top of a mountain to the small religious town of Montenero. Normally the thought of riding in a cable car up a mountain would frighten me but after all the crazy Italian driving it was a piece of cake. Once we reached the top we were rewarded with the most spectacular view of Livorno. We walked around the tiny town and into the massive church that was so ornate it could have been in Rome! It was so refreshing to have such a peaceful moment alone. I can’t imagine the manpower it must have taken to build the church so high up on the mountain, impressive! Riding the cable back down we once again soaked in the breathtaking views of the city, each view somehow better than the last. Livorno is a bustling seaside city that shouldn’t be overlooked. From the historic buildings to the seaside promenade we enjoyed everything about the city. The locals couldn’t have been nicer or more helpful, they seemed happy to have us visiting and not skipping over them for Florence. Once back on the ship we lounged by the pool, enjoying the heat of the late afternoon sun. We dined at one of the ships fancy restaurants, enjoying a delicious Italian meal on our last night in Italy. I opted for an early bedtime and sent Tim out on his own for the night, I think I’ll be watching the sunrise by myself again but love that he’s enjoying all the nightlife. If you ever travel to Florence, plan a couple days for Livorno and when you reach the top of Montenero, you’ll be glad you did.