The best road cycling routes around Riserva di Cornacchiaia

I traced this route without knowing I would have this view of Pisa and the Mediterranean. The climb has sections with steep gradients, so warm up a bit before reaching the foot of the climb. CAUTION: if you have a support vehicle, the descent does not allow two cars to pass side-by-side.

Interesting fact: It was from here that both Giovanni da Verrazzano and Amerigo Vespucci set sail in the 16th century, crossing the Atlantic to reach the new continent. This was also the port where the fleet of the Knights of Santo Stefano, the religious order of chivalry founded by Cosimo de' Medici to counter the raids of the Barbary pirates who plagued the Mediterranean, was moored. Here, in a lavish ceremony, Maria de' Medici embarked to marry Henry IV, King of France. Galileo also came here to test how the telescope he had perfected could be used aboard a ship in rough seas, but an exceptional calm thwarted his attempt.

For 10 km from Calambrone (mouth of the Scolmatore) to Marina di Pisa (mouth of the Arno), there is a coastline consisting of a beach of fine, light sand with the sea in front and a pine forest with thick Mediterranean scrub behind it.

Very nice view all the way to Pisa and the sea.

2025: At least the middle part of the segment is completely overgrown and not enjoyable by any cyclist. However, the area is nice and recommendable.

The Terrazza Mascagni in Livorno is always spectacular, but under a storm it is even more fascinating. The strong waves and the dark sky create a unique atmosphere, which shows all the power of the sea.

Wonderful places and views to enjoy in complete tranquility.

Fortezza Vecchia of Livorno A journey through time to discover Livorno's past Crossing the threshold of the Old Fortress, sister of the younger New Fortress, you will be transported back in time, to the very place where the first nucleus of the city was born and developed. Built in the sixteenth century by order of Cosimo I De' Medici, this architectural jewel is a real treasure trove of hidden treasures and in reality much more than a simple military fortress. We are dealing with the true guardian of Livorno's roots. The massive red walls, the imposing ramparts rising from the sea, the towers, the coats of arms, the tombstones and the marble details of this Renaissance work of art tell in fact of a past of greatness and resistance, revealing the genius and deeds of the men who shared its history. From the top of the walls you can also enjoy a breathtaking view. You will see Livorno and its port from a unique perspective, while on the horizon the Tyrrhenian Sea spreads out and gets lost in the blue sky. A fortress with the history of Livorno inside The Old Fortress was built starting in 1519 on a project by one of the most famous military architects of the time, Antonio da Sangallo the Elder, and is characterized by an asymmetrical structure that includes three large bastions: that of the Ampolletta, facing the city, that of the Canaviglia towards the port and that of the Capitana to the north-east. The internal structure is a real cross-section of the history of the city: it includes the remains of the medieval tower with a square plan (around 1077) that marked the first port of Livorno, the keep of Mathilda (around 1241) and the fortification walls of the ancient Quadratura dei Pisani, still visible (around 1377). From the Portus Pisanus to the Medici, from the Lorraine to the Napoleonic occupations, from the uprisings of the Risorgimento to the deep scars of the Second World War, the Old Fortress has accompanied Livorno and the people of Livorno in all eras, giving them the beloved certainty of an ever-present reference. Text / Source: Livorno Turistico, Largo del Cisternino, 13 - 57123 Livorno (LI) - Italy https://www.visit-livorno.it/attrazione/fortezza-vecchia/