On 19 March 1606, the feast of St. Joseph, then the patron saint of Tuscany, the Grand Duke Ferdinando I de ‘Medici elevated Livorno to the rank of City. Every year, on this date, Livorno celebrates its birthday with a historical reconstruction that takes place in the Cathedral: it is the ceremony of the Capperuccio, after the name of the stole that Ferdinand I placed on Bernardetto Borromei’s shoulder, appointing him in solemn form as first gonfaloniere toga and thus elevating Livorno to a City.
A historical procession of figures makes its solemn entry into the Cathedral, after a brief performance by musicians and flag-wavers in Piazza Grande and attends the solemn mass in the Cathedral, at the end of which the ceremony takes place.
