Blu Livorno – Biennale of the Sea and Water, taking place from Wednesday 14 to Saturday 17 May 2025, is a new event promoted by the Municipality of Livorno, in collaboration with major public and private stakeholders. The initiative highlights the city’s deep maritime vocation and its strong connection to the sea in all its forms, aiming to address relevant themes and forward-looking perspectives that affect entire coastal communities.

Livorno aspires to become the “capital of the sea”, focusing on the environment and sustainability, but also on economy and technological innovation. The event follows two parallel tracks: a scientific one, and a mainstream one, open to outreach, public information, and the touristic promotion of Livorno as a city of water, sea, and hospitality.

At the heart of the Biennale is the strategic goal of activating a concrete dialogue between coastal administrations and their stakeholders to identify shared solutions to common challenges. Through the analysis of best practices, the application of scientific knowledge, and the sharing of experiences, the Biennale seeks to develop sustainable strategies for coastal management within regulatory, scientific, institutional, and economic frameworks.

From the collection of issues raised by local territories to their analysis by the scientific and economic communities, and finally their return to the public: the results of this process will be stored in a digital repository on the official website of the Biennale, which will also host the proceedings of conferences and roundtables.

The subtitle of this first edition, “The Thin Blue Line”, refers to the fragile boundary—both physical and symbolic—where land meets sea, and along which the contradictions of contemporary society are most evident, calling for a rethinking of the relationship between humans, the sea, and water in a more sustainable way.

“With this practical approach,” stated Luca Salvetti, Mayor of Livorno, “we aim to build and strengthen institutional communication channels that, starting with the Region of Tuscany and ANCI (National Association of Italian Municipalities), extend to dialogue with other Italian and Mediterranean regions, and involve the Italian government and European institutions.”

From the outset, the Biennale presents itself as an event of national and international scope, with the involvement of the Italian Parliament, the European Commission, and the Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions of the European Union. At the national level, the participation of the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, the Ministry for Civil Protection and Maritime Policies, and various research bodies and scientific institutions has already been confirmed with great enthusiasm.

The main focus of Blu Livorno will be on environmental and sustainability topics, but the event will also include themes such as blue economy, technological innovation, training, and scientific dissemination. The structure of the discussions will vary—scientific, technical, educational, or informative—with the goal of exploring development prospects and already-active solutions to tackle degradation phenomena threatening coastal communities.

The Biennale will also address the issue of social sustainability, paying special attention to beach accessibility, inclusion, and hospitality—core elements of Livorno’s history and identity. An identity encapsulated in the city’s motto, “Diversis Gentibus Una”, and illustrated by Mayor Salvetti in his recent publication “Here No One Is a Stranger. Stories of Migrants and Hospitality.”

The topic of safety at sea will not be overlooked: while the sea is a place of life and connection, it is also the site of tragic memories. Remembering those who lost their lives at sea is crucial—not only to seek truth and justice—but also to prevent similar tragedies from recurring.

“Our goal,” concludes Salvetti, “is to make Livorno a reference point for marine science, but also a cultural hub of the Mediterranean: a bridge between sea-facing communities united by the shared objective of preserving marine ecosystems and ensuring sustainable life along the coasts.”

A key event of particular interest will be the conference:
“The Evolution of Shipping Companies Over the Last Twenty Years: Market Dynamics and Environmental Sustainability”,
scheduled for 14 May, and promoted by the Propeller Club Port of Leghorn, moderated by maritime lawyer Luca Brandimarte and journalist Pietro Roth.

The full programme is available at: www.biennalelivorno.it