Saturday, July 31, 2010

Red & White

Venezia, Palio Marinaro 2010“Venezia” is proudly flying its colors after winning every rowing competition this year.Venezia, Palio Marinaro 2010They won their 21st “Palio Marinaro” and wisely recycled the last victory banner, which now says: “Twenty triumphs... + 1”.Venezia, Palio Marinaro 2010The red and the white are flying even from the top of the bell tower of the church of “San Ferdinando”.

See also: Venice Takes All - Coppa Barontini - Coppa Risi'atori

Friday, July 30, 2010

Totano & Cinghiale

“Sagra” is something that could be translated in English as festival or fair, usually linked to some local food in a small town or village, with music and dance usually going along with the food.“Totano fritto” (the accent is on the first “o”) is a deep-fried sliced flying squid, something like the more common fried “calamari”.“Cinghiale” is our wild boar. There are many more “sagre” around Tuscany, typically announced with simple and garish posters, and most of these places are not far from Livorno.

See also: Totani - Cinghiale

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Around “Via Ricasoli”

Fish in a shop window, via Ricasoli, LivornoI saw this nice fish in a shop window in “Via Ricasoli”.Snake handle, via Ricasoli, LivornoSame street, we have already seen a door handle like this here., via Ricasoli, LivornoA new shop awaits its opening, still in “Via Ricasoli”.Graffiti: living is easy with eyes closed, LivornoBut you better don't drive, or your car may end up like this.Pee maniac, footballer won't play for Livorno “The pee maniac attacks a thirteen year old girl” - “I am a Pisan and won't play for Livorno, footballer tears his contract”.

More Walks

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Alarife Cien

Alarife Cien, Livorno“Alarife Cien” is a BD100 (30 m/99 ft) sailing yacht built in 2007 by the Barcos Deportivos shipyard in Tarragona, Spain.Alarife Cien, LivornoBoth the hull and the superstructure are in aluminium, with a sail area of 530 square meters. The boat has a crew of four, with room for six guests.Alarife Cien, LivornoFor sailing, she has something more than a simple compass...Alarife Cien, LivornoFlying at the stern the “yacht ensign” version of the Spanish flag.

I hope ciel will be satisfied with this monocoque...

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Modigliani's Tomb

Modigliani's tomb, Père Lachaise, Paris
[Photos by Trillian]
This is not Livorno, but the resting place of one of its most famous sons, Amedeo Modigliani, in the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.Modigliani's tomb, Père Lachaise, ParisWhen in Paris, we often visit Père Lachaise and never miss a few moments at Modigliani's tomb.

In 1920, after not hearing from him for several days, his neighbor checked on the family and found Modigliani in bed delirious and holding onto Hébuterne who was nearly nine months pregnant. They summoned a doctor, but little could be done: Modigliani was dying of the then-incurable disease tubercular meningitis.
Modigliani died on January 24, 1920. There was an enormous funeral, attended by many from the artistic communities in Montmartre and Montparnasse.
Hébuterne was taken to her parents' home, where, inconsolable, threw herself out of a fifth-floor window two days after his death, killing herself and her unborn child. Modigliani was interred at the Père Lachaise Cemetery.
Hébuterne was buried at the Cimetière de Bagneux near Paris, and it was not until 1930 that her embittered family allowed her body to be moved to rest beside Modigliani. A single tombstone honors them both. His epitaph reads: “Struck down by Death at the moment of glory”. Hers reads: “Devoted companion to the extreme sacrifice”.

(From “Amedeo Modigliani”, Wikipedia)

Search labels: Modigliani
External links: Amedeo Modigliani (Wikipedia)

Monday, July 26, 2010

Sitting Car

Car sitting on a bench, Porto Mediceo, LivornoI found this car sitting on a bench at the “Andana degli Anelli”.Car sitting on a bench, Porto Mediceo, LivornoSomehow the car went through two racks and down the staircase.Car sitting on a bench, Porto Mediceo, LivornoThe bench offered some rest to the poor vehicle and saved it from splashing into the water.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Baies du Monde

Baies du Monde catamaran, port of LivornoThis is the 15 meter catamaran “Baies du Monde” sailing from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean as part of the project Windincap.Baies du Monde catamaran, port of LivornoThe actual cruise started from the island of Oléron, off the Atlantic coast of France last April and will end in Croatia next August after calling in twenty sea cities for few days. In each port groups of disabled people will be taken on board to share for some hours the experience of sailing.Baies du Monde catamaran, port of LivornoThe boat has been in Livorno since July 20 and will leave for Ostia (Rome) on July 25.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Seagulls & Co

We see seagulls far inland now, so no surprise at this one proudly prodding the grass of the “Parterre”.On the battlements of the “Fortezza Nuova”, another gull is still looking at the sea.This little guy is only a bit nervous under the scorching sun.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Prince Abdulaziz

Prince Abdulaziz, Saudi Royal family yacht, port of LivornoThe “Prince Abdulaziz” is one of the Royal Yachts of the Saudi Royal family and the fourth largest motor yacht in the world.Prince Abdulaziz, Saudi Royal family yacht, port of LivornoBuilt in 1984 by Helsingør Vaerft in Denmark at a reported cost of $184 millions, the boat has a length of 147 meters (482 feet) and was refitted various times since, most recently in 2005.Prince Abdulaziz, Saudi Royal family yacht, port of LivornoIn Jedda, her home port, the “Prince Abdulaziz” is usually berthed beside the King’s palace. Manned by a crew of 65, the boat features a mosque, a cinema and a fully equipped hospital.
It has been said that the boat is defended by surface-to-air missiles and by an underwater surveillance system.

See also: I Dynasty - Superyachts - I Dynasty, in Norway - Giorgio Armani's Yacht - Imagination & Illusion - Bistango & Reborn - Octopus - Bistango

Thursday, July 22, 2010

On the Walls

Let's see this as a short walk in the strange world of graffiti. I took all these pictures last June, within minutes, in the city center.Red Brigades graffiti, LivornoI hope the star of the “Brigate Rosse” (Red Brigades) is a joke, even if a very bad one.Let's hope that the crisis gets worse! graffiti, LivornoThis one says: “Let's hope that the crisis gets worse”.Shit! graffiti, LivornoThe last one is quite laconic and even (badly) dated: “Shit!”.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Morgiano & Alì

Quattro Mori, Four Moors, LivornoIt seems that the sculptor Pietro Tacca used only two convicts as models for the “Four Moors”. The younger was Morgiano (which is a the name dark type of grapes) and the older was Alì.Quattro Mori, Four Moors, LivornoTry to judge by yourself if this can be true, here are the Northwest and the Southeast moors.Quattro Mori, Four Moors, LivornoMeet Alì, the Northeast and Southwest moor. Some say that the artist tried to represent the four ages of the man, portraying both models younger and older.Quattro Mori, Four Moors, LivornoBoth convicts were freed after the work and legend says that the younger Morgiano sometimes brought his new family to see “his” monument.

External links: Barbary Pirates (Wikipedia)
See also: Four Noses - Eight Moors - Four Moors

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

More Signs

What is a “I” instead of a “Y”?I am not sure if this means “Free beauty” or “Devoid of beauty”, in both cases the beauty salon seems doomed.“Piazza XX Settembre” (September 20th Square) is often called by locals “Piazza Venti”...

Monday, July 19, 2010

Before Sunset

I have already said in another post what I think of sunsets, but I really like the warm light before.I took these pictures during a quick walk around the “fossi” (our canals), finding some nice reflections either. This is a detail of the “Ponte dei Domenicani”.One of the boats of the “Nautical Institute”, with in background the stones of the “Fosso Reale” enhanced by the grazing light.
After few days in Paris, we're back to our daily routine in Livorno.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Y421

Y421 Porto Empedocle, Italian Navy tugboat, LivornoA couple of archive shots of a tugboat, unusually in grey.Y421 Porto Empedocle, Italian Navy tugboat, LivornoOur “civilian” tugboats usually come in black and white, but this is the “Porto Empedocle” of the Navy.

Search labels: tug

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Numbers

Picturesque house numbers, LivornoAnother set of “deviant” house numbers, found during my walks.

See also: House Numbers

Friday, July 16, 2010

Pubblici Macelli

Not much more of a decrepit coat of arms of Livorno is left of the “Pubblici Macelli” (Public Slaughterhouses), where once animals were processed for consumption.The Medicean walls runs along with “Via della Cinta Esterna” until we find ourselves in the heart of the quarter of “Venezia”.There, another street name reminds us of the former destination of the place: “Via degli Ammazzatoi” or Slaughterhouse Street.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Cinta Esterna

Leopoldine walls, LivornoThe Leopoldine walls were built to enforce tariffs, not for defence. Smugglers tried to hoist merchandise over the wall but these teeth effectively blocked the ropes.Leopoldine walls, LivornoThe wall still borders most of “Via della Cinta Esterna” (Road of the Exterior Boundary)...Leopoldine walls, Medicean walls, Livorno...until it meets the older tract of Medicean walls, where was once located the Public Slaughterhouse.