Dogana d'acqua, Customs border at Navicelli channel, Livorno, Italy
The Dogana d'acqua stands along the Navicelli channel, combining a modern steel and glass structure with preserved elements from the original building. It was reconstructed in 2014 following a municipal competition and now functions as a logistics and technology center while keeping its historical character.
Construction began in the 1830s under Grand Duke Leopold II of Tuscany to expand the free port zone between Fort San Pietro and San Marco Gate. The building marked the boundary between controlled trade territory and the rest of the port.
The building reflects how maritime trade was controlled in Tuscany, mixing administration with the architectural style of the Leopoldine Walls that still frame the area.
The site is easy to reach in Livorno's modern port district next to the Navicelli canal. The exterior is best viewed during daylight hours when natural light highlights the steel framework and the blend of old and new structures.
Two large docks were originally excavated around the customs post: an inner rectangular basin and an outer semicircular one, both filled in later for urban development. These vanished waterways once shaped how goods moved through this checkpoint.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
