Porta a Mare waterfront enters a new phase: IGD appoints Savills to select leading hotel partners to enhance the Lips area

Following the completion of the Mazzini and Officine Storiche sectors, IGD—through its subsidiary Porta Medicea—has begun work on the Lips sub‑area of the Porta a Mare Waterfront in Livorno, and has appointed Savills as exclusive advisor to identify and select one or more operators to manage the planned tourist‑accommodation complex and to support the full development of the Lips sector.

Porta a Mare Waterfront is a multifunctional waterfront district located in Livorno’s old port. The urban regeneration project stems from IGD’s redevelopment of the former Orlando shipyards, creating a new 100,000‑square‑metre neighbourhood that brings together retail, office, residential and hospitality functions. The first two sub-areas, Mazzini and Officine Storiche, have already been completed, while work continues on the Lips, Molo Mediceo and Arsenale sub-areas. Mazzini and Officine Storiche house 115 luxury residential units, 114 of which have already been sold, offices and commercial activities including national and international tenants, as well as a wide range of food options, benefiting from large outdoor seating areas located on the docks overlooking the marina.

The tourism‑accommodation component of the Porta a Mare Waterfront, which will cover more than 12,000 square metres of gross area in the Lips sector, includes the development of a Hotel + RTA facility with around 180 rooms, complete with dedicated amenities such as a restaurant, bar, gym and meeting rooms, as well as a hostel offering more than 200 beds. As the authorisation process with the relevant authorities nears completion, the appointment of Savills as advisor reflects IGD’s objective of establishing a partnership with one or more international, high‑standing hotel operators—consistent with the project’s overall positioning—to ensure the optimal enhancement of the sub‑area.

Roberto Zoia, CEO and Managing Director of IGD, stated: “Porta a Mare Waterfront is an innovative project that, over the years, has helped return Livorno’s old port area to the city, transforming it into a renewed and fully accessible urban space. With the first two sub‑areas successfully delivered, the project is now moving forward with the development of the hospitality‑focused Lips sector. Its enhancement represents another step in what I call the ‘long march’ toward completing the trajectory set out in the Industrial Plan. We are confident that our partnership with Savills will allow us to secure a hotel operator capable of delivering quality, appeal and long‑term success for the initiative, enhancing its positioning and strengthening its value over time.”

Dario Leone, Head of Hospitality & Leisure at Savills, commented: “The Porta a Mare Waterfront project offers a unique entry opportunity for hotel operators, as Livorno continues to experience strong development and rising tourism flows. With its maritime heritage, cultural depth and strategic location on the Tuscan coast—within easy reach of major ports and airports—Livorno is gaining strong national and international appeal, making it an increasingly compelling destination for industry operators.

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