The towering stern of the “MSC Sinfonia”, berthed at the Sgarallino pier inside the “Porto Mediceo”, is higher than the Canaviglia bastion of the “Fortezza Vecchia” (Old Fortress).
This 251 meter cruise ship was built in 2002 by the “Chantiers de l'Atlantique” in Saint-Nazaire, France. She carries up to 2200 passengers with a crew of 700. Length is important because during the season, May through September, an average of two and up to four cruise ships call at Livorno every day. The passengers of the relatively smaller vessels have their ships berthed at the piers of the old “Porto Mediceo”, which is within walking distance from the city center.
The giants around and beyond 300 meter (like the 294 meter “Norwegian Gem”) are berthed at the “Alto Fondale” or at the new “Molo Italia” and their passengers need quite a long trip on shuttle buses to get in town and back. It is also true that most of these visitors never touch Livorno at all, going straight by bus to their day trip destinations such as Pisa or Florence.See also: Port Structures
19 comments:
Precisely why I wouldn't enjoy a cruise... One shot of the leaning tower and back. Wednesday, let me see. Oh we must be in Italy.
Massive ship! Cruise on its board must be very comfortable but I'm with cielequimper - one day one place - thank you, no!
It looks like a big building.
It's huge and modern but... next to the old brick bastion it's a monstrosity...
Like cities on the water. Too bad Livorno doesn't get the tourists.
It is incredible! These ships are so huge! Excellent shots! Especially the first one!
The cruise ship season is upon us. The harbour in Stockholm has a web site with information about visiting ships. It's updated every thirty minutes.
That first shot, showing the contrast between the old fortress walls and the sleek modern ship, is great. If a cruise is the only way some people will get a taste of other places it's better than nothing. Maybe 'a day in Pisa' is not the best way to get to know a place, but it's better than no days in Pisa, isn't it?
Looks just like here.
These things are simply floating hotels...behemoths of the sea...I've many friends who swear by them, but I'm with Ciel, too.
You certainly have some colorful ships there!
I can't imagine not stopping at Livorno...from what you've shown us, that would be a horrendous mistake!
These are superb images as usual, VP!
And thanks for your very gracious comments on Ocala DP today!
Funny that it's taller than the fort!! I wouldn't mind being on one of those boats today.
@ Jacob - Thank you for your kind words, but with all my love for my hometown, Florence and Pisa are no match for Livorno. Neither are Lucca or Siena, just to stay in Tuscany.
@ VP: I don't really agree. Livorno may not have the Uffizi or Piazza del Campo but as such, it's a little piece of Tuscany with its own Italian life: always worth a stop, like most places in the world...I never yet went further west than Volterra but that was just for want of time.
Heading straight on to Florence I can understand, it's such a famous place and many people choose hectic ways of traveling nowadays. I go by train and stay for several nights. That's just me.
As for these floating monstrosities, Jacob is right. They're not really ships, they're something else.
Wow! I too am not a huge fan of cruise ships and this just looks weird against the beautiful old walls.
You have "Austrian Invasion of Tuscany", Grand Ball, TAN with lots of cruises and yachts and sexy waitress, love padlocks, Vicolo Degli Asini, croccante and brigidini and many more, it's more than enough to make us come to Livorno.
I'm guessing there's plenty on board to keep them entertained, those cruise ships are massive!
La prima foto è molto impressionante! Mi piace guardare le navi da crociera che passano attraverso il mare di Marmara ed il Bosforo.
The other day I was searching for a cruise trip and found one that stops at Livorno:D I hope one day I have enough money to travel to your beautiful country.
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