Aboard Viking Star with Viking Ocean Cruises
Cruise Overview
Italy's vibrant capital lives in the present, but no other city on earth evokes its past so powerfully.
For over 2,500 years, emperors, popes, artists, and common citizens have left their mark here.
Archaeological remains from ancient Rome, art-stuffed churches, and the treasures of Vatican City vie for your attention, but Rome is also a wonderful place to practice the Italian-perfected il dolce far niente, the sweet art of idleness.
Your most memorable experiences may include sitting at a caffè in the Campo de' Fiori or strolling in a beguiling piazza.
Livorno is a gritty city with a long and interesting history.
In the early Middle Ages it alternately belonged to Pisa and Genoa.
In 1421 Florence, seeking access to the sea, bought it.
Cosimo I (1519–74) started construction of the harbor in 1571, putting Livorno on the map.
After Ferdinando I de' Medici (1549–1609) proclaimed Livorno a free city, it became a haven for people suffering from religious persecution; Roman Catholics from England and Jews and Moors from Spain and Portugal, among others, settled here.
The Quattro Mori (Four Moors), also known as the Monument to Ferdinando I, commemorates this.
(The statue of Ferdinando I dates from 1595, the bronze Moors by Pietro Tacca from the 1620s.)In the following centuries, and particularly in the 18th, Livorno boomed as a port.
In the 19th century the town drew a host of famous Britons passing through on their grand tours.
Its prominence continued up to World War II, when it was heavily bombed.
Much of the town's architecture, therefore, postdates the war, and it's somewhat difficult to imagine what it might have looked like before.
Livorno has recovered from the war, however, as it's become a huge point of departure for container ships, as well as the only spot in Tuscany for cruise ships to dock for the day.Most of Livorno's artistic treasures date from the 17th century and aren't all that interesting unless you dote on obscure baroque artists.
Livorno's most famous native artist, Amedeo Modigliani (1884–1920), was of much more recent vintage.
Sadly, there's no notable work by him in his hometown.There may not be much in the way of art, but it's still worth strolling around the city.
The Mercato Nuovo, which has been around since 1894, sells all sorts of fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, and fish.
Outdoor markets nearby are also chock-full of local color.
The presence of Camp Darby, an American military base just outside town, accounts for the availability of many American products.If you have time, Livorno is worth a stop for lunch or dinner at the very least.
Livorno is a gritty city with a long and interesting history.
In the early Middle Ages it alternately belonged to Pisa and Genoa.
In 1421 Florence, seeking access to the sea, bought it.
Cosimo I (1519–74) started construction of the harbor in 1571, putting Livorno on the map.
After Ferdinando I de' Medici (1549–1609) proclaimed Livorno a free city, it became a haven for people suffering from religious persecution; Roman Catholics from England and Jews and Moors from Spain and Portugal, among others, settled here.
The Quattro Mori (Four Moors), also known as the Monument to Ferdinando I, commemorates this.
(The statue of Ferdinando I dates from 1595, the bronze Moors by Pietro Tacca from the 1620s.)In the following centuries, and particularly in the 18th, Livorno boomed as a port.
In the 19th century the town drew a host of famous Britons passing through on their grand tours.
Its prominence continued up to World War II, when it was heavily bombed.
Much of the town's architecture, therefore, postdates the war, and it's somewhat difficult to imagine what it might have looked like before.
Livorno has recovered from the war, however, as it's become a huge point of departure for container ships, as well as the only spot in Tuscany for cruise ships to dock for the day.Most of Livorno's artistic treasures date from the 17th century and aren't all that interesting unless you dote on obscure baroque artists.
Livorno's most famous native artist, Amedeo Modigliani (1884–1920), was of much more recent vintage.
Sadly, there's no notable work by him in his hometown.There may not be much in the way of art, but it's still worth strolling around the city.
The Mercato Nuovo, which has been around since 1894, sells all sorts of fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, and fish.
Outdoor markets nearby are also chock-full of local color.
The presence of Camp Darby, an American military base just outside town, accounts for the availability of many American products.If you have time, Livorno is worth a stop for lunch or dinner at the very least.
For over 2,500 years, emperors, popes, artists, and common citizens have left their mark here.
Archaeological remains from ancient Rome, art-stuffed churches, and the treasures of Vatican City vie for your attention, but Rome is also a wonderful place to practice the Italian-perfected il dolce far niente, the sweet art of idleness.
Your most memorable experiences may include sitting at a caffè in the Campo de' Fiori or strolling in a beguiling piazza.
Livorno is a gritty city with a long and interesting history.
In the early Middle Ages it alternately belonged to Pisa and Genoa.
In 1421 Florence, seeking access to the sea, bought it.
Cosimo I (1519–74) started construction of the harbor in 1571, putting Livorno on the map.
After Ferdinando I de' Medici (1549–1609) proclaimed Livorno a free city, it became a haven for people suffering from religious persecution; Roman Catholics from England and Jews and Moors from Spain and Portugal, among others, settled here.
The Quattro Mori (Four Moors), also known as the Monument to Ferdinando I, commemorates this.
(The statue of Ferdinando I dates from 1595, the bronze Moors by Pietro Tacca from the 1620s.)In the following centuries, and particularly in the 18th, Livorno boomed as a port.
In the 19th century the town drew a host of famous Britons passing through on their grand tours.
Its prominence continued up to World War II, when it was heavily bombed.
Much of the town's architecture, therefore, postdates the war, and it's somewhat difficult to imagine what it might have looked like before.
Livorno has recovered from the war, however, as it's become a huge point of departure for container ships, as well as the only spot in Tuscany for cruise ships to dock for the day.Most of Livorno's artistic treasures date from the 17th century and aren't all that interesting unless you dote on obscure baroque artists.
Livorno's most famous native artist, Amedeo Modigliani (1884–1920), was of much more recent vintage.
Sadly, there's no notable work by him in his hometown.There may not be much in the way of art, but it's still worth strolling around the city.
The Mercato Nuovo, which has been around since 1894, sells all sorts of fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, and fish.
Outdoor markets nearby are also chock-full of local color.
The presence of Camp Darby, an American military base just outside town, accounts for the availability of many American products.If you have time, Livorno is worth a stop for lunch or dinner at the very least.
Livorno is a gritty city with a long and interesting history.
In the early Middle Ages it alternately belonged to Pisa and Genoa.
In 1421 Florence, seeking access to the sea, bought it.
Cosimo I (1519–74) started construction of the harbor in 1571, putting Livorno on the map.
After Ferdinando I de' Medici (1549–1609) proclaimed Livorno a free city, it became a haven for people suffering from religious persecution; Roman Catholics from England and Jews and Moors from Spain and Portugal, among others, settled here.
The Quattro Mori (Four Moors), also known as the Monument to Ferdinando I, commemorates this.
(The statue of Ferdinando I dates from 1595, the bronze Moors by Pietro Tacca from the 1620s.)In the following centuries, and particularly in the 18th, Livorno boomed as a port.
In the 19th century the town drew a host of famous Britons passing through on their grand tours.
Its prominence continued up to World War II, when it was heavily bombed.
Much of the town's architecture, therefore, postdates the war, and it's somewhat difficult to imagine what it might have looked like before.
Livorno has recovered from the war, however, as it's become a huge point of departure for container ships, as well as the only spot in Tuscany for cruise ships to dock for the day.Most of Livorno's artistic treasures date from the 17th century and aren't all that interesting unless you dote on obscure baroque artists.
Livorno's most famous native artist, Amedeo Modigliani (1884–1920), was of much more recent vintage.
Sadly, there's no notable work by him in his hometown.There may not be much in the way of art, but it's still worth strolling around the city.
The Mercato Nuovo, which has been around since 1894, sells all sorts of fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, and fish.
Outdoor markets nearby are also chock-full of local color.
The presence of Camp Darby, an American military base just outside town, accounts for the availability of many American products.If you have time, Livorno is worth a stop for lunch or dinner at the very least.
Cruise Itinerary
Aboard Viking Star
Launch Year: 2015 Length: 227 Width: 29 Currency: EUR Capacity: 930 Crew Count: 465 Deck Count: 9 Cabin Count: 455
Expand your horizons on this comfortable, award-winning ship, intimate and thoughtfully created by experienced nautical architects and designers to enrich your interaction with your destination in every way.
Viking Star Facilities
Viking Star Includes
Cabin Details
Sleep easy in a comfortable king-size bed with fine cotton linens for the sweetest dreams. Elegant décor and calm colours create the perfect sanctuary (because lazy days are often the best days). Wake up to breakfast in bed (24-hour room service is complimentary). Tune in to the latest technology, with free Wi-Fi and TV with movies on demand. Your generous ensuite has a shower that drenches you, heated floor and fluffy towels to warm you and indulgent lotions to pamper you. Bathroom bliss.
Whichever stateroom you choose, you can look forward to a private sanctuary of understated elegance, one that features all the comforts of home and your own spacious veranda.
