Venezia Nuova, Renaissance district with canals in Livorno, Italy
Venezia Nuova is a district with navigable canals crossed by bridges that link historical buildings and streets lined with traditional architecture. The water pathways wind through the neighborhood, creating a distinctive network that connects different areas of the quarter.
Giovanni Battista Santi designed this district in 1629 as the first expansion of the Medici city, transforming swampy land into an ordered urban area. This early planning effort under Medici rule established the foundation for what would become a distinctive neighborhood.
The district comes alive each summer during the Effetto Venezia festival, when performances, concerts, and art exhibitions spill onto the streets and along the water. Visitors walking through can experience these cultural events as part of the everyday landscape during the season.
The district is best explored on foot, starting from the Bridge of St. John Nepomucene and following Via Borra to reach the main sites. The flat terrain and walkways along the canals make it easy to navigate and discover different parts of the neighborhood.
The Bottini dell'Olio, an 18th-century oil warehouse, now houses the Museum of the City of Livorno with contemporary art collections. The building demonstrates how a former commercial space has been repurposed as a cultural venue.
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