Upwards of 800 slips, some for superyachts, will be available in the Tuscany region of Italy by the summer of 2026. The groundbreaking on the new Livorno marina, in the city of Livorno, happens this month. It comes almost 20 years after the efforts initially began.
Azimut-Benetti Group and D-Marin, which operates 26 marinas in Europe and the United Arab Emirates, are behind the development. It’s in the city’s historic port, which already has a cruise-ship dock. Azimut-Benetti has a yacht-construction site there as well. The Livorno marina will include 815 yacht berths, along with restaurants, bars, and offices. Current docks and a jetty are undergoing renovation, too, to help create some of the new features. Notably, some parts of the marina reportedly will be accessible far before the June 2026 completion date. However, city officials have not specified which areas.
During a city-organized press conference last week, Luca Salvetti, Livorno’s mayor, explained that a government concession for the development came in December. It followed 16 years of trying, he added. Furthermore, he credits the local yachting industry with securing a 20-year concession, meaning the marina has a 20-year lease. Overall, Salvetti is confident it will drive tourism, along with jobs. Although Livorno is lesser known than some Tuscan cities, it has a 16th-century fort facing the harbor, plus canals leading into the city from the harbor. Among its other attractions is Terrazza Mascagni (below), a checkerboard-covered promenade along the water.
The marina design intends to be eco-friendly. For instance, rather than fencing, hedges and trees will serve as perimeters. Recirculating rainwater will keep these and other green areas vibrant. Solar panels will further the eco-friendly approach, producing significant electrical needs.
Paolo Vitelli, Azimut-Benetti Group’s founder, says his company’s efforts, in conjunction with the local community, have been going on for 20 years. “The Livorno marina will be a state-of-the-art realization,” he asserts. “The historical Medici harbor is incorporated in a modern, beautiful, eco-friendly marina open to the town and to international visitors.”
Nicolo Caffo, D-Marin Italia’s general manager, agrees with Vitelli’s assessments. “It will be one of the most prestigious marinas in the Mediterranean,” he says. The partnership with Azimut-Benetti “will ensure Livorno marina flourishes and becomes the renowned yachting hub we know it can be.”
Azimut-Benetti Group azimutbenetti.com
D-Marin d-marin.com
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