Friday, December 31, 2010

Attias

Piazza Attias, LivornoIt takes only a minute to walk from “Piazza Attias” ...Santa Maria del Soccorso, piazza della Vittoria, Livorno... to “Santa Maria del Soccorso”, in “Piazza della Vittoria”.Piazza Attias, back of Coin, LivornoBut you have to pass near this ...

See also: Piazza Attias - Santa Maria del Soccorso - Ugly Corner

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Landmarks

Compass rose, Canale dei Francesi, LivornoThe “Canale dei Francesi” (Frenchmen's Canal) links the Old to the New Harbor. On a pier, used by fishermen, we can find a compass rose, perfectly aligned with the geographic north.National Tide Gauge Network, LivornoI saw this mark inside the “Porto Mediceo”: it says “caposaldo di livellazione” (geodetic control mark) of the “Rete Mareografica Nazionale” (National Tide Gauge Network).

See also: Torre del Marzocco - Tower of the Winds - Strange Clock

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Cisternone

Cisternone by Pasquale Poccianti, LivornoWe have already seen this strange building, called “Cisternone” (Big Cistern), in Half-Dome Fad.Cisternone by Pasquale Poccianti, LivornoThe half-dome or “semicupola” is the main characteristic of the “Cisternone” and it is considered one of the projects nearer to the dreams of the visionary French architects Étienne-Louis Boullée and Claude-Nicolas Ledoux.House of supervisors of the source of the Loue by Claude Nicolas LedouxThe “House of supervisors of the source of the Loue” was a project for the ideal city of Chaux, published in 1804 by Ledoux.Hôtel Guimard or Terpsichore temple by Claude Nicolas LedouxThe Hôtel Guimard, often called Terpsichore temple, was built in Paris from 1770 to 1773, on a project of the same Ledoux.

See also: Half-Dome Fad - Cisternino di città
External links: Gli architetti rivoluzionari (Politecnico di Bari, in Italian)

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Borgo Cappuccini

“Borgo dei Cappuccini” takes its name from the Capuchin friars, exactly like our world famous coffee drink. We already had a walk there a few months ago, but it's time now to explore it again.Birds on wires, big jigsaw puzzle piece, LivornoAn oversize jagsaw puzzle piece outside a nursery school.Former Italian Communist Party local branch, LivornoThe historical “Sezione Borgo” (local branch) of the former Italian Communist Party. The flag is of a more recent political faction.Stationery and copy shop, LivornoThe funny facade of a stationery and copy shop.Flowery gate, LivornoA gate made of leaves...Cantina Senese, please return the empty fiascos, LivornoA notice of the nearby “Cantina Senese”: return your empties!

More Walks

Monday, December 27, 2010

The Last Santas

Santa with a broom, Livorno
“Via del Bosco”
Silvery Santa, Livorno
“Via Grande”
Neon Santa, Livorno
“Borgo dei Cappuccini”

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Audrey's Bags

Breakfast at Tiffany's bag, LivornoWe have already seen in another post how much Audrey Hepburn is still so popular here and, probably, elsewhere.Audrey Hepburn's Sabrina bag, LivotnoAfter signs and t-shirts, now is the turn of handbags.

See also: Audrey Hepburn

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Christmas Trees

Christmas tree, piazza Grande, LivornoThis Christmas tree is in front of the Cathedral, in “Piazza Grande”. Not much of a tree and even slightly leaning, but our new bishop is a Pisan after all.Christmas 2010, the first beautiful thing“Christmas 2010 is the first beautiful thing” quotes the title of the movie filmed in Livorno in 2009: “La prima cosa bella”.Christmas tree decorated with computer parts, LivornoAt work we have this quite original Christmas tree decorated with computer parts: connectors, memory sticks and fans. Garlands are made from printer ribbons and cables.

Happy Christmas to Everyone!

Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas Eve

White bears, Christmas tree, Livorno
White bears and a Christmas tree, “Via Magenta”

Blonde mannequin, star, Livorno
A mannequin and a star, “Via Ricasoli”

Rose shaped candle, Livorno
A rose shaped candle, “Via Marradi”

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

The Exile

L'esule (The Exile) by Temistocle Guerrazzi“L'esule” (The Exile) is a sculptural group made around 1840 by the sculptor Temistocle Guerrazzi (Livorno 1806-1884). The work shows an exile ready to cross the border, in the sad act of leaving his family to seek refuge abroad.L'esule (The Exile) by Temistocle GuerrazziThe statue was bought by our Municipality in 1889 and was placed in the front yard of the “Gherardesca” compound in 1904.

See also: Istituto “Pietro Mascagni” - Benefactors' Room

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Two Years

Today we celebrate our second anniversary. On this occasion we'd like to thank all our followers and readers for their support.Melting snowman, LivornoHere is our first walk after the snow. It was almost sad seeing this snowsomething melting away.Abandoned gas station, LivornoWhat we have known as the “Green Gas Station” is on the verge of being dismantled.A crystal Santa staring at the camera from a shop in “Via Marradi”.DehGusto car and sign, LivornoThis is probably a wordplay joining “Deh”, our typical insert in a conversation, and “Gusto” (Taste) to make “DehGusto” (I degust).Christmas window, LivornoSomething colorful for the Holidays, in the usual “Via Ricasoli”.

More Walks

Monday, December 20, 2010

Cheap or Dear?

Cheap animals, LivornoAnimals in a windows: quite cheap at 5 Euro apiece.900 Euro fish, LivornoA more precious tiny fish: the price tag says 900 Euro.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

A Ray of Hope

Dutch Church, scali degli Olandesi, LivornoLast Wednesday the Dutch Church made a tiny appareance on the front page on our local paper, along with an extensive coverage of the decay of the building in another page. Let us celebrate this sparkle of interest with an image of the only remaining (almost) intact window of the church.
This is an excerpt from a video shot by Claudio Ceccarini during our visit inside the church. Search labels: Dutch church See also: Abandoned Church - Scali degli Olandesi - Chiesa degli Olandesi - Sad Preview - A lecture - Finale - Falling to Pieces - Flying Rats - Another Collapse - Fenced Off - Piazza Poerio - The Places I Love - A Few More Votes - Rose Window - Second Place? External links: Temple of the Dutch German Congregation (Wikipedia) Facebook Group: “Salviamo la chiesa degli Olandesi a Livorno” (Save the Dutch church in Livorno)

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Snowfall

Fortezza Vecchia, snow, LivornoAt last, most of Tuscany and even Livorno got some snow. Here is our “Fortezza Vecchia” dusted with white.Palm trees, snow, LivornoPalm trees on the “Pamiglione” (Old Harbor).Santa Trinita bridge, snow, LivornoThe southbound lane of the “Santa Trinita” bridge is blocked.Scali degli Isolotti, snow, LivornoThe “Scali degli Isolotti” and the bell tower of “San Ferdinando”.Snowman, Piazza del Municipio, LivornoA snowman outside a newsstand, in “Piazza del Municipio”.

More Walks

Friday, December 17, 2010

Feeding a Ferry

Giglio tanker, LivornoThe “Giglio”, named after the island of the Tuscan Archipelago, is the newest bunkering tanker of the D'Alesio Group's fleet. She is one of the now rare ships built in Italy, at the Giacalone Shipyard in Mazara del Vallo.Moby Corse, Giglio tanker, LivornoHere the tanker is feeding fuel oil to the ferry “Moby Corse”, with her distinctive bunch of cartoons.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Smart Business

Le Pharaon Smart, Livorno
“Le Pharaon”, a video game arcade
Look of the Year Smart, Livorno
“The Look of the Year”, a fashion show
Greenvision Ciampi, Smart Fortwo, Livorno
A local optician shop

See also: Smart Love - Nine Smarts - Smart Love II - Smart Forever
Search labels: Smart

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Roadworks

Roadworks, LivornoRoadworks are much less traumatic for our streets now.Roadworks, LivornoDigs look so neat like they were cut by some laser beam...Roadworks, Livorno... and excavators look like oversized toys.