Calafuria | Visit Livorno

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The cliff of Calafuria

Welcome to the Magical Coral Reef, an underwater paradise waiting to be explored

A sea of colors under the emerald blue

The Calafuria coastline is a 3 km stretch south of Livorno where the sandstone cliff rises imposingly from the sea towards the green hills behind. It is an area of great scenic and naturalistic value, with seabeds that drop rapidly down to 52 meters, easily accessible both from the coast and by boat. If you are passionate about diving or love to be guided in guided scuba diving, this is the place for you. On your own or taking advantage of the many offers and services of the city’s diving centers, you can experience an incredible underwater experience in what is called the “Magical Mile”: where the red coral shines in the illuminated caves by the divers.

Underwater wonders at the water’s edge

The crystal-clear waters in front of the cliffs are a corner of marine nature that will surprise you. Here, the deep blue streaked with emerald of the Livorno sea reveals itself in all its magnificence, offering refuge to countless fish species: bream, dentex, gilt-head seabream, barracuda, lobsters, mollusks, cephalopods, and of course, all the classic representatives of the bottom fauna, which shines in this area for its variety and quantity.

From 3 to 10 meters deep, the seabed is a mosaic of algae, some of which are very rare, and meadows of Posidonia oceanica, grazing areas for sea urchins, interrupted by tongues of golden sand that, forming small underwater bays, alternate with rocky pinnacles, caves, and hidden cavities. Not far from the coast, starting from a depth of 16-17 meters, the majestic walls adorned with red coral begin to appear, descending towards the deepest blue while an incredible variety of vibrant mollusks dance among the rocks, offering a truly exciting spectacle of colors and shapes.

The coral colony, the red treasure of Calafuria

Arriving at a depth of around 20 meters, amidst sponges and gorgonians, a marvelous coralligenous dominated cliff descends almost vertically to 40 meters towards a sandy bottom. Along the walls, countless crevices, channels, caves, and fissures provide shelter to organisms that prefer less illuminated environments. This is the habitat of the Livorno Red Coral (Corallium Rubrum), one of the few coastal populations in Italy, different in density, shape, and even characteristics from nearby populations in Elba and France.

An extraordinary marine ecosystem that continues to be the subject of studies and research by the scientific community, with particular attention to the red coral colony and the phenomena that have influenced it over the years. Everything that characterizes the seabed of this marvelous cliff, such as its structure, light, currents, temperatures, and the particular turbidity of the waters that varies according to the weather, are all factors that, favoring the settlement of this beautiful coelenterate, continue to be studied and carefully monitored.

Useful informations

Who:

Alone, Children and families, Groups, In pairs, With friends
When:

Spring, Summer
What:

Connect with nature, Do activities, Relax
Other characteristics

Free, Outdoors, Reachable by public transport, Without reservation