Old English Cemetery, Livorno

The Old English Cemetery in Livorno is the oldest Protestant cemetery in the country, dating back to the late 16th century. Situated near the Via Verdi, close to the Waldensian Church and the former Anglican church of Saint George, it represents a significant chapter in Livorno's history, particularly its ties with the English community established through the Levant Company. The cemetery's origin is often linked to a commercial agreement between Grand Duke Ferdinando I and Queen Elizabeth I, possibly opening in 1594.

The cemetery served as the final resting place for the predominantly Anglican English community, with its earliest graves dating from the 1640s. Over the years, the cemetery evolved, with railings added in 1745, funded by a bequest from merchant Robert Bateman. By 1838, the cemetery was closed following the construction of a new Anglican church and a replacement burial ground in the northern part of Livorno.

Despite damage from World War II bombings and the construction of modern developments like a parking lot nearby, the cemetery remains a poignant historical site. It is home to centuries-old cypress trees, Mediterranean plants, and, some say, elms from Virginia planted by American sailors. The cemetery features a variety of gravestones, from the bas-relief of Leonardo Digges' grave (1646) to Neoclassical monuments influenced by Bertel Thorvaldsen, making it a unique reflection of Livorno's cultural and architectural heritage.