Saturday, April 30, 2011

Livornopoli

Livornopoli poster, Senza Soste, LivornoThe curious poster of a promotional campaign for the local news magazine “Senza Soste” (Ceaselessly), where the properties on the board are all problems attributed by the paper to the current local administration.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Three Handles

Ornate door handle or knocker, Livorno
“Piazza della Vittoria”

Ornate door handle or knocker, Livorno
“Via Cesare Battisti”

Ornate door handle or knocker, Livorno
“Via Gazzarrini”

See also: Handles

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Belforte Bookstore

Belforte bookshop, LivornoA few days ago, the well known “Belforte” bookshop moved from its historic premises in “Via Grande” to another location nearby, in “Via della Madonna”. Here are the decorated new shutters.Belforte bookshop plaque, LivornoEstabilished in 1805, Salomone Belforte & C. is also a publishing house. Their motto, “Et voluisse sat est”, comes from an elegy by Sextus Propertius and translates as: it is enough to have had the determination.

External links: Salomone Belforte & C. (Website) - Sextus Propertius (Wikipedia)

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Wrong Spelling

Wrong spelling graffiti, LivornoI am not sure why it may rule here, but the name is Coney Island.Wrong spelling sign, LivornoThey got “Barber Shop” right, but “Stylist” was a “y” too far...

See also: English - More Signs

Monday, April 25, 2011

Vehicles

Asquith Old Bus, Tuttovela Village, LivornoSome unusual vehicles inside and around the “Tuttovela” village at the 28th TAN: this is called Asquith Old Bus and is a prop for the “Strada del Vino dei Colli di Candia e di Lunigiana” (Wine road of the Candia and Lunigiana Hills).Sidecar outside the Tuttovela Village, LivornoA sidecar parked nearby, with no apparent advertising purpose.Lavender bicycle, La Lavanda del Lago, Tuttovela Village, LivornoA lavender bycicle at the stand of the “La Lavanda del Lago” (The Lavender of the Lake).

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Inneggiamo

The “Easter Hymn” from the opera “Cavalleria rusticana” by the Livornese Pietro Mascagni.

We rejoice that our Saviour is living!
He all-glorious arose from the dead;
Joys of heaven the Lord to us giving,
All the sorrows of darkness are fled!


Performarce by the Ensemble of the Vienna State Opera Chorus with the soloist Jee Hye Han, Korea 2010.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Friday, April 22, 2011

La Gran Guardia

Theater La Gran Guardia, LivornoIf the “Odeon” was larger with its 2300 seats, “La Gran Guardia” was the more noble of our movie theaters. It was built during the reconstruction of the area of “Via Grande”, almost destroyed during the air raids of the last war.Theater La Gran Guardia, Livorno“La Gran Guardia” was inaugurated in 1954 and, with its 1300 seats and a great acoustic, was the venue of choice not only for movies, but for theater, concerts and even operas.Theater La Gran Guardia, LivornoThe curious name, which literally means Big Guard, comes from a nearby old station of the guards called in the same way.Theater La Gran Guardia, LivornoThe theater closed in 2005, the same year of the “Odeon”, but at least there are no cars in its future: within months an international retail-clothing company will open a huge store on the premises.Theater La Gran Guardia, LivornoWe all wish well to this theater in its new incarnation; it was so sad to see this place as it was for the last time.

See also: Cinema Odeon

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Palazzo Orlando

Office building of the former Orlando Shipyard, LivornoThe recently renovated office building of the former “Cantiere navale Fratelli Orlando” (Orlando Brothers Shipyard).Office building of the former Orlando Shipyard, LivornoTo answer to Jack's question and Dina's suggestion I am reposting a picture by Trillian from “A Bunch of Benches”, where we can see the monument to Giuseppe Orlando and a pair of benches facing the Darsena Nuova (New Harbor).

See also: Palazzo Orlando (Official site, in Italian)

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Cadets

28th TAN, Foreign Navies parade, LivornoThe 28th TAN is already finished, but you will see a few more posts about it. Another angle on the representants of the foreign Navies draping their national flags on the staircase of Town Hall.28th TAN, Foreign Navies parade, LivornoThe signs were slightly too tall for some of the guys...

Search labels: TAN - Tuttovela

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Mount of Gold

Via del Monte d'Oro (Street of the Mount of Gold) plaque, LivornoThe plaque of “Via del Monte d'Oro” (Street of the Mount of Gold) looks quite new but the strange name, a heritage from an old local inn, was already estabilished in 1735. Then it briefly became “Via delle Stalle” (Street of the Stables) for the presence of a cavalry detachment.Via del Monte d'Oro (Street of the Mount of Gold) plaque, LivornoThe narrow street flanking the Chamber of Commerce has recently regained its historical name, while many of the old buildings were restored a few years ago.Via del Monte d'Oro (Street of the Mount of Gold) plaque, LivornoOn a small slab of eroded sandstone is still visible the number of the building as it was in the Medicean city, when numbers were given for the quarter and not for the single street.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Flags and Sails

Foreign navies ensigns, 28th TAN (2011) LivornoA Saturday morning with many flags in the wind for the last race of the J/24 class: the most unusual was probably the one of the PLA Navy (second from the left), while the most famous was surely the flag of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (bottom right).Stella Polare, 28th TAN (2011), LivornoThe “Stella Polare” (Pole Star) of the Italian Navy in full sail.Mexican crew with sombreros, 28th TAN (2011), LivornoA Mexican crew at work with the sails wearing large sombreros!J/24 leaving for the race, 28th TAN (2011), LivornoMany of the boats were able to leave the port in sail.Agusta-Bell AB 212ASW, 28th TAN (2011) LivornoSome lucky guy was taking pictures from a Navy AB 212ASW.

Search labels: TAN - Tuttovela

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Trofeo D'Alesio 2011

Trofeo D'Alesio 2011, LivornoThe “Trofeo Gaetano D'Alesio” is again the first competition of the rowing season, which is a series of boat races between the quarters of Livorno. Here are the rowers of “San Marco Pontino”.Trofeo D'Alesio 2011, LivornoThe boat of “Borgo Cappuccini” coming back, after the turn at the outer buoy.Trofeo D'Alesio 2011, LivornoThe boat of “San Jacopo”, with “Ovo Sodo” in background.Trofeo D'Alesio 2011, Livorno“Fabbricotti” was the last to start at the chronometer race.Trofeo D'Alesio 2011, Livorno“Venezia”, the winner of every race last year, triumphed again...

See also: Gozzi & Gozzette - Palio Marinaro - Trofeo D'Alesio - Coppa Risi'atori - Coppa Barontini - Venice Takes All

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Cinema Odeon

Car park, former Odeon movie theatre, LivornoThe “Cinema Odeon” was one of the best movie theaters in town: I saw “Jaws” there and a few others movies of the time. Now only the front hall of the cinema still exists, the rest was replaced by a multi-level car park.Car park, former Odeon movie theatre, LivornoThe cost of the structure is already around 20 million Euro and to make this eyesore even more conspicous it has been painted blue. The parking garage borders with the Old English Cemetery and the Waldensian church.

See also: Odeon Parking - Odeon Parking, Sardi Street - Old English Cemetery - Waldensian church

Friday, April 15, 2011

Many Flags

28th TAN, Foreign Navies parade, LivornoOn the last thursday of the trophy, the representants of the foreign Navies present at the TAN take part in a parade across town.28° TAN, parata Marine Estere, LivornoThe Navy band was playing all along for the joy of the many kids from the local elementary schools.28th TAN, Foreign Navies parade, LivornoAfter a walk along “Via Grande” the delegations arrived in “Piazza del Municipio” (Town Hall Square) for a simple ceremony.28th TAN, Foreign Navies parade, LivornoA lot of colorful national flags were displayed on the staircase of Town Hall for a souvenir photo.28th TAN, Foreign Navies parade, LivornoAn then there was only one: the Italian Navy flag.

Search labels: TAN - Tuttovela

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

J/24

J/24, 28th TAN, Porto Mediceo, LivornoAfter a regatta the J/24 sailboats come back to the floating jetties inside the “Porto Mediceo”.J/24, 28th TAN, Porto Mediceo, LivornoIn background the ferry “Moby Freedom” and her cartoons.J/24, 28th TAN, Porto Mediceo, LivornoSome sailboats are towed,J/24, 28th TAN, Porto Mediceo, Livornoothers use the sail even for the last approach.J/24, 28th TAN, Porto Mediceo, LivornoSome large motor yachts watch the sailboats, quite unimpressed.

Search labels: TAN - Tuttovela

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Pisan Walk - 2 of 2

San Giorgio ai Tedeschi, PisaA dilapidate bell tower, not far from the world famous Leaning Tower. One of the bells is probably already fallen away...Percy Bysshe Shelley, plaque, PisaA plaque placed on a building where Percy Bysshe Shelley lived and worked. In Italian “immagini” has a double “m”.Santa Bona, patron saint of hostesses, Pisa“Bona” is the colloquial and quite rude term for “hot”. A saint with this name, who also pretends to be the patron saint of hostesses, could only be a Livornese prank.Via delle Belle Donne” (Street of the Beautiful Women) plaque, PisaObviously “Via delle Belle Donne” (Street of the Beautiful Women), is a very short alley...La Dolce Vite (The Sweet Grapevine), PisaEverybody knows “La Dolce Vita” (The Sweet Life). “La Dolce Vite” (The Sweet Grapevine) is one of the finest wordplays ever made by a Pisan mind on any subject.

See also: Livorno Airport - Pisan Walk (2010) - Pisan Walk 1 of 2 (2011) - In Pisa (2013)
More Walks