Saturday, February 28, 2015

Round Window

Round window, via Sgarallino, via del Pastore, Ardenza, Livorno
A quite rare round window in Via Sgarallino / Via del Pastore.

Search labels: window

Friday, February 27, 2015

The Knotted Gun

Octopus, Institut océanographique, Maison des océans, rue Saint-Jacques, Paris
Please forgive me if I drop Livorno for a day: here we are in Paris and this is an amazing octopus above the entrance of the Institut océanographique (or Maison des océans), in rue Saint-Jacques. Until yesterday this photo was my most successful page online, visited several thousands of times.
Non Violence, The Knotted Gun by Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd, United Nations, New York
It has just been surpassed by this photo of the sculpture “Non-Violence” by Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd, also known as “The Knotted Gun”, which is in New York City on the grounds of the United Nations Headquarters.

See also: Octopus - The Knotted Gun (Daily Photo Stream)
External links: Non-Violence - Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd - United Nations Headquarters (Wikipedia)
 - 25 of the Most Creative Sculptures and Statues from Around the World (Bored Panda)
 - This French doorway is obviously the beginning of the Cthulhian architecture movement (io9)

Thursday, February 26, 2015

February Cat

Cat, Porto Mediceo, Livorno
A cat inside the Porto Mediceo. By the way, it has been a while since the last time I saw our friend the grumpy cat...

See also: Watch Cat - The Grumpy Cat - Killer Gaze
Search labels: cat

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Mega Smeralda

Ferry Mega Smeralda, IMO 8306486, Livorno
The 168-meter ferry “Mega Smeralda” was built in 1985 by Wärtsilä at the New Shipyard in Helsinki, Finland. She was christened as “MS Svea”, then became “Silja Karneval”, “Color Festival” and, since 2008, “Mega Smeralda”.

External links: MS Mega Smeralda (Wikipedia)
Search labels: ferry

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Speed Camera

Speed trap in Via Firenze, Livorno
Officers of the Polizia municipale (Municipal police) setting up a speed trap in Via Firenze.

External links: Municipal police - Speed limit enforcement (Wikipedia)

Monday, February 23, 2015

Two Cannons

Small dry dock, port of Livorno
We have already seen our small dry dock at work and how it is closed by a caisson. What we haven't noticed before is that two old cannons were recycled on its sides as bollards.
Old cannon used as bollard, small dry dock, port of Livorno
Old cannon used as bollard, small dry dock, port of Livorno
We saw other cannons near the North Lighthouse and we will see a few more around the Porto Mediceo.

See also: Dry Dock - Numptia - Caisson - The North Lighthouse

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Blue Pavilion

Villa Azzurra, Blue Pavilion, Montenero, Livorno
The unusual architecture of “Villa Azzurra”, built in the first years of 1900 as “Blue Pavilion” in Montenero.
Vintage postcard, Blue Pavilion, Montenero, Livorno
In this 1920 postcard of the Montenero funicular we can see on the right the even fancier original version of the same building.

See also: Villa Azzurra - Montenero

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Gulls and Radomes

Seagull, yacht Told U So, IMO 9611761, port of Livorno
A gull flying above the radomes of the yacht “Told U So”.

See also: Told U So
External links: Radome (Wikipedia)
Search labels: yacht - gull

Friday, February 20, 2015

I Sette Tavoli

Restaurant Chez Renée, I Sette Tavoli, via San Jacopo in Acquaviva, Livorno
A Vespa decorated with flowers and hanging paintings outside the restaurant “Chez Renée” in Via San Jacopo in Acquaviva. The place is also known as “I Sette Tavoli” (The Seven Tables), because it really has only seven tables available for its customers.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Italian Red Cross

Bas-relief, Italian Red Cross, Livorno
A bas-relief outside the building of the local committee of the Italian Red Cross, at the corner of Via del Mare with Via della Gherardesca.

External links: Italian Red Cross (Wikipedia)

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro container ship, IMO 9357963, port of Livorno
Last Sunday, when I saw the container ship “Rio de Janeiro” leaving port, it was raining and I was quite far away.
Rio de Janeiro container ship, IMO 9357963, port of Livorno
As usual, the 286-meter passing ship dwarfed the pilot boat.

Search labels: pilot

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Great Crested Grebe

Great crested grebe, Porto Mediceo, Livorno
I caught this bird swimming in the Porto Mediceo. I was able to identify it as a great crested grebe only with the help of my legendary friend Stefano and his encyclopedic knowledge of animals and plants.

External links: Great crested grebe (Wikipedia)
Search labels: bird

Monday, February 16, 2015

Palazzo Squilloni

Palazzo Squilloni, scali Cialdini, Livorno
The facade of the nineteenth-century Palazzo Squilloni and its main entrance is on Scali Cialdini.
Palazzo Squilloni, scali Cialdini, Livorno
The side of the building faces the Fosso Reale, along with the majestic Palazzo dell'Aquila Nera and the imposing Palazzo Maurogordato.

See also: Scali Cialdini - Black Eagle - Scali D'Azeglio - Reflected Eagle - On the Fosso Reale - Palazzo Maurogordato - Palazzo dell'Aquila Nera

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Funicular of Montenero

Funicular of Montenero, via del Governatore, Livorno
One of the two cars of the funicular of Montenero crossing Via del Governatore on a bridge.
Vintage postcard, funicular of Montenero, upper station, Livorno
The upper station and a car in a 1926 postcard.
(Postcard digitized from the collection of Antonio Cantelli)

See also: Montenero - Sanctuary of Montenero - Villa Azzurra - Funicolare - Sagrato - Famedio - Piazza del Santuario
External links: Funicular (Wikipedia)
Search labels: postcard

Friday, February 13, 2015

Squirrels

Squirrel on a gate pillar, Via di Montenero, Livorno
We have already seen lions and poodles guarding gates, but in Via di Montenero we spotted a couple of squirrels.

See also: Lion and Poodles

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Told U So

Motor yacht Told U So, IMO 9611761, port of Livorno
The 45-meter “Told U So” was built in 2011 by Benetti as a custom creation of Molori Design. The ‘used’ one-owner yacht is now on sale for slightly less than 15.000.000 Euro,.

External links: Benetti (Wikipedia)
Search labels: yacht

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Athletic Club

Athletic Club Gym, Via Marradi, Livorno
The “Athletic Club” in Via Marradi: probably there aren't many gyms like this around...

Monday, February 9, 2015

Cormorants

Cormorant, Fortezza Vecchia, Livorno
Last Sunday half a dozen cormorants were perched on the walls of the Fortezza Vecchia, between the Canaviglia and Ampolletta bastions.
Cormorant, Fortezza Vecchia, Livorno
If not common, they are becoming a less unusual presence even inside the Porto Mediceo.

See also: Miramare - The Cormorant - Cormorants on the Fortress
- Fortezza Vecchia - Canaviglia - Ampolletta
Search labels: bird

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Piazza delle Carrozze

Funicular of Montenero, piazza delle Carrozze, Livorno
The lower terminus of the funicular of Montenero in Piazza delle Carrozze.
Vintage postcard, Funicular of Montenero, piazza delle Carrozze, Livorno
The same building in a 1915 postcard.
(Postcard digitized from the collection of Antonio Cantelli)

See also: Montenero - Sanctuary of Montenero - Villa Azzurra - Funicolare - Sagrato - Famedio - Piazza del Santuario
External links: Funicular (Wikipedia)
Search labels: postcard

Saturday, February 7, 2015

Rusty Railing

Detail of a balcony railing, Piazza San Jacopo in Acquaviva, Livorno
Detail of an balcony railing in Piazza San Jacopo in Acquaviva.

Friday, February 6, 2015

Belforte

Belforte bookstore, Via della Madonna, Livorno
Four years ago the locally renowned “Belforte” bookstore moved from its historic premises in Via Grande to a nearby location in Via della Madonna. It didn't last, and the shop has moved again to a place in Via Roma, slightly outside the city center. The owner wrote on the shutters:

“Mi sono trasferito in via Roma 69, vi porto tutti nel cuore”
(I have moved to via Roma 69, I carry all of you in my heart)

“No Wi-Fi zone, parlate tra voi, che le parole sono importanti!”
(No Wi-Fi zone, talk to each other, because words are important)

See also: Belforte Bookstore - Pedestrian Zone

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

CREI I

Dredge CREI I, IMO 8959489, port of Livorno
The 62-meter “CREI I” was built in 1978. She is a dredge, or a vessel that is used to excavate and remove material from the bottom of a body of water.
Dredge CREI I, IMO 8959489, port of Livorno
She can also be used for beach nourishment, digging fresh sand from the bottom of the sea and literally spraying it from afar on a depleted shoreline.

External links: Beach nourishment (Wikipedia)

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

January Cat

Cat, Fortezza Nuova, Livorno
The last time I visited the Fortezza Nuova was last January: the weather wasn't yet bad, and this cat was basking in the sun.

See also: The Cats of the Fortress - More Cats of the Fortress - Autumn Cats
- Fortezza Nuova (2009) - Fortress from the Sky (2012) - Welcome to the Fortress
Search labels: cat - Fortezza Nuova

Monday, February 2, 2015

Reinforced Concrete

Buildings in construction, viale Petrarca, Livorno
A group of buildings left unfinished for years on a plot of land between Viale Petrarca and Via Ferraris.
Buildings in construction, viale Petrarca, Livorno
It seems that the construction works will begin again quite soon and that this has something to do with the next opening of the nearby Esselunga supermarket. (Pictures taken last December)

See also: Esselunga

Sunday, February 1, 2015

February's Theme Day

Container ship Tommi Ritscher, IMO 9333371, port of Livorno
February's theme should be the answer to this question: “If you had to leave forever the city from which you usually post, what would you miss most?” A knee-jerk answer would be: “nothing”, but on a second thought I opted for my favorite spot at the entrance of the port. By the way, this is the 255-meter container ship “Tommi Ritscher”, escorted by the tugs “Alessandro Neri” and “C.te Contini”.


See also: The Looming Tower - Alessandro Neri
External links: Port of Livorno (Pinterest)
Search labels: tug