Italian Naval Academy, Livorno

The Italian Naval Academy (Accademia Navale) in Livorno is a prestigious coeducational military institution, established to provide technical training to the officers of the Italian Navy. Founded on November 6, 1881, the academy emerged from the consolidation of two naval schools: the "Royal Navy School" from the Kingdom of Sardinia in Genoa and the "Borbonica" in Naples, following the Unification of Italy and the creation of the Regia Marina. Admiral Benedetto Brin, then Secretary of the Navy, was instrumental in its foundation.

Historically, the academy occupies the grounds of the former Hospital of Saint James, built in the 1640s to quarantine crews from the Levant. The design of the academy’s complex was led by Captain Luigi Pestalozza and engineer Angiolo Badaloni, with construction commencing in 1878. The academy expanded over the years, incorporating the adjacent Saint Leopold Hospital in 1913.

The buildings, besides their military functions, briefly housed aircraft from 1923 to 1926, until the establishment of a dedicated air force academy. During World War II, bombing raids on Livorno forced the academy to relocate to Venice and later to Brindisi. After the war, extensive rebuilding efforts were needed to restore the heavily damaged structures, which lasted for two decades.

Today, the academy spans approximately 2.3 million square meters and features classrooms, laboratories, dormitories, and various recreational and educational facilities, including a swimming pool and an auditorium. A central feature is the Parade Ground (Piazza d’Armi), a large courtyard that opens towards the Ligurian Sea, where students practice sail maneuvering in preparation for service aboard the tall ship Amerigo Vespucci. The academy accommodates around 1,250 cadets and officers annually.