Livorno Food and Market Tour

This was a fantastic tour. Our guide, Laila, met us, and immediately made us feel at home-- and led the tour with only the two of us. She was extremely knowledgeable and personal. Starting wtih a cup of expresso at a local cafe we walked through the city seeing the highlights as well as surprises such as unwaterlevel/underground store and meeting rooms We continuted through the market where Laila's interactions with her friends and vendors gave us a feel for what it is like to be a part of hte community.We tasted absolutely delicious burrata, parmesan, and reggiano cheese, followed by olive oil and wine. Next was a visit to the fish market to taste marvelous fish--kinds we don't get at home. Our last stop was at a local eatery to have a sample of the famous Ponche-. (YUM!) We chatted the entire time, sharing life stories, and by the end, we felt like we had a friend. We cannot praise Laila's tour hightly enough.

My husband, daughter, and I had a wonderful time with Laila. She's lively, knowledgeable, and fun. We opted for this tour as we have been to Florence and Pisa several times before having lived in Provence (France) for a year. One of the best tours we took instead of a cruise excursion. Livorno is a great place with an engaging history.

This tour was a very pleasant surprise since we weren’t sure how interesting Livorno would be. But the fact that it is less touristy, and that Laila was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about her hometown made it a great tour. We love foodie tours because you learn so much about the town and it’s history as well as it’s true local food scene. This one truly took you to the places you would never find on your own - our last stop was to an unmarked doorway with no hint of what was inside. But enter and you are met with a line of locals who have been coming for years for a unique Livorno treat. If you like getting out of the tourist traps and into long established, authentic spots run by locals, often families, do this tour.

We have just completed a tour of Livorno which proved to be the most pleasant of mornings. Although reviews were positive we had not expected a street food experience to be so enjoyable and interesting. Of course it was all down to our guide Laila whose personality and knowledge of her native area were major contributions. Her interaction with the local identities added greatly to the authenticity of the experience. All of the tastings and there were many without being overwhelming were unique and memorable. In the few hours that we had, our understanding of Livorno, its history and its place in Tuscany increased considerably. This tour, if it fits into your program, should not be missed.

Livorno often gets overlooked by cruisers in their dash to get on a bus to the usual Tuscan tourist traps. But dont let the glories of Florence, Siena, Lucca and Pisa blind you to the fact that Italys second most important port has a very interesting history that dates back to medieval times. Like Venice, Livorno attracted a large Jewish community in the 16th century which helped the city become a major trading centre and today it has grown to have a population of 160,000. This tour is led by local guide Laila who is deeply in love with Livorno. She offers much more than a foodie tour - she knows every nook and cranny and is happy to give personal insights into all aspects. What makes it special is that she treats you like friends. We chatted as we went around and she suggested a number of places we could visit during our short stay including Bolgheri and Volterra and even where we could park for free in Pisa. She speaks impeccable English and has an enthusiasm for life which is infectious. Laila seems to know just about everyone she meets along the way and makes you feel like a local as you browse all the fascinating stalls in the open-air fruit and veg markets and the indoor meat and fish stalls. Dont have much for breakfast because you will be sampling loads of tempting morsels along the way relax your dieting for one day in the interests of researching local traditions! You will be plied with coffee, local wine and a sweet, spicy rum ponce to finish. The tour lasts for three hours but you will find time passes very quickly. Laila was the highlight of our stay in Livorno and opened our eyes to all it has to offer. Dont hesitate book it!

My favorite guide, Laila was so nice and charming ! We loved all the food tasting plus loads of info about the place ,people and the culture.

We had a fantastic morning with Laila, Livorno is very interesting with its own culture and food inspired by its history. Fun and informative. And a great alternative to the long day trips to Florence