Tuscany’s powerful ruling family, the Medici, built Livorno’s waterways in the 17th century so that goods could be transported more easily from ships in the bustling harbor to merchants’ homes and storehouses in town. Barges have since been replaced by pleasure craft along these canals, offering unique perspective on Livorno’s picturesque historic center. This tour combines evening sightseeing by boat with a tasting of Italian sweet wines. Your guide is both a sommelier and licensed guide for Tuscany’s main cities, bringing a deep knowledge of wine, regional history and culture to your time together. As the boat glides peacefully along the canals, you’ll sample four sweet wines paired with typical Italian desserts: a Recioto della Valpolicella with chocolate, a Picolit Collio with a pastry, a Vin Santo del Chianti with cantucci (a homemade almond cookie) and a Passito Sicilia with an almond-paste cookie. Along the way, you’ll see such sights as Livorno’s 16th-century fortresses, stone bridges, churches, elegant mansions, and the former warehouses that now house bars and restaurants that make for a lively ambience.
Livorno’s network of canals are the picturesque setting for a guided tasting of sweet Italian wines on the water.