Moving Cities
About the city

Livorno

Multicultural tradition and participatory dynamics

Key Takeaways

  • 1

    Livorno has a unique history as a multicultural and cosmopolitan city for over five centuries, open to welcoming people from diverse foreign communities. Due to its designation as a free port and duty-free area since the late 16th century, merchants of any nationality or religious background were able to trade on equal terms until the late 19th century.

  • 2

    Today, Livorno is committed to fostering political representation for migrant and refugee communities through decentralised local governance structures, such as Livorno’s Migrant Council (Consulta delle Comunità dei Cittadini Stranieri).

  • 3

    Migrant-led associations in Livorno have been active both locally and globally. At the local level, they help newcomers access essential services and integrate smoothly into city life.

What is unique about the city?

The long history of an open port: Livorno stands out for its unique history as a multicultural and cosmopolitan city, whichfor over five centuries has been welcoming populations from all over the world. As a historical witness describes it, already in the 16th century the city was known as “a continuous fair of foreigners". While this historical background does not correspond to the principles of modern ‘solidarity cities’, as the reason for the free port in the past was purely economic, foreign communities have nonetheless enjoyed access to political, cultural and social representation in the city for many years.

The city’s legacy of tolerance and cultural diversity continued to shape Livorno’s identity long after and has transformed Livorno into a welcoming city, even during the recent context of ongoing Mediterranean Sea rescue operations. Despite the efforts by the central government to limit access to Italian ports, Livorno has distinguished itselfas a place of safety. For example, in August 2024, 57 rescued individuals were brought to Livorno, with local authorities facilitating their disembarkation. The cooperation of local authorities highlights the city’s ongoing involvement in the safe landing and initial integration of migrants and refugees.

​​What are the key factors?

Migrant-led associations: By offering free-of-charge services such as legal and social support to ensure that newcomers can navigate municipal resources, migrant-led associations in Livorno have contributed significantly to the smooth integration of different communities and to the city’s rich diversity. Not only by connecting with newcomers but also by maintaining strong connections with their countries of origin (in particular, the Senegalese, Bangladeshi and Kurdish community), Livorno’s migrant associations demonstrate a global sense of solidarity and support.

What are the most outstanding results so far?

Political representation of migrants and refugees: The political representation of migrants and refugees in Livorno has evolved significantly. In recent years, local political structures have increasingly incorporated migrant voices to ensure broader inclusion in decision-making processes. For example, the city government has fostered better communication channels between the municipality and its migrant communities through the creation of Livorno’s Migrant Council (Consulta delle Comunità dei Cittadini Stranieri) and has encouraged migrant participation across all neighbourhoods in local issues such as urban planning and social services. This reflects the city’s commitment to ensuring that diverse perspectives and proposals from foreign communities are considered in the formulation of local policies.

Political activities and advocacy beyond the city level?

The local government’s political and advocacy activities are currently rather limited, as Livorno is not part of any national or transnational solidarity city network. The main supra-local network connections concern collaboration with the National Association of Italian Municipalities (ANCI) and an exchange network between cities in Tuscany on migration policies, coordinated by the Region of Tuscany. However, local migrant associations carry out advocacy and cooperation activities with their countries of origin. A notable example is the network built by the association Mezzaluna Rossa Kurdistan: The head office of the association in Livorno coordinates volunteer offices across Europe for humanitarian cooperation projects in Kurdistan.

Inspiring Approaches