Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Work in Progress

Works, Town Hall square, LivornoSome kind of works are going on in “Piazza del Municipio” (Town Hall square), where an excavator is resting proudly on a mound of earth. On the white building you can see my Everyday Chimera.Works, Town Hall square, LivornoIn a corner, a smaller excavator is looking up at the bigger one...

Monday, November 29, 2010

Traffic Signs

Solar powered pedestrian crossing signs, LivornoTraffic signs are everywhere: here is a battery of solar powered pedestrian crossing signs on “Viale Alfieri”.Falling car sign, port of LivornoDon't smile: this has already happened, with tragic consequences.Direction signs, port of LivornoSomewhere in town there should be a sign pointing to Pisa...Traffic signs van, Livorno“Segnaletica Stradale” means traffic signs.Danger signSome signs end up in strange places, like this one in the “Parco Centro Città”, signaling... a large puddle of water?

Sunday, November 28, 2010

A Painting, a Frame

Abandoned painting under the rain, LivornoOnce I saw this painting abandoned under the rain.Empty frame, LivornoSome time later I saw this empty frame left on a wall. Life isn't fair...

Saturday, November 27, 2010

The Old “Cantina”

New Venice's cantina torn down, Livorno“Venezia” is a “rione” (quarter) of Livorno named after the more famous Venice for its canals. Its nautical club, or “cantina”, was the recent winner of all the competitions of the last rowing season.New Venice's cantina torn down, LivornoThe historical sheds, “Venezia” has won 21 edition of the “Palio Marinaro”, are now being torn down to make room for the final tract of a new canal.New Venice's cantina torn down, LivornoSomeone else was there to record the moment.New Venice's cantina torn down, LivornoThe new “cantina” will not be too far, they are already moving into some rooms under the north end of the “Santa Trinita” bridge, the grey sloping line visible on the left.

Search labels: new canal
See also: An Useless Dig - Canale dei Navicelli - Viale Caprera - Micropoles - New Venice - A New Canal - Crash - The Dig - Building the Canal - Venice's Canal - Along the New Canal - Under Construction - The Bomb - The Buried Bomb - The Wall - Modulblock

Friday, November 26, 2010

The Helipad

AW139 I-BEPP, City Hospital, LivornoAn air ambulance helicopter approaching the hospital.AW139 I-BEPP, City Hospital, LivornoAfter the war the hospital was extended with the construction of new wings. The latest addition was a raised emergency helipad.Windsock, City Hospital, LivornoI wonder why they have built this pad if they are already planning a new 270 Million Euro hospital somewhere else.

See also: Spedali Riuniti

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Autumn Leaves

Piazza Mazzini, LivornoEarly October in “Piazza Mazzini”: only few leaves on the ground.Piazza della Vittoria, LivornoEarly November in “Piazza della Vittoria”, there is already more brown than green.Villa Fabbricotti, LivornoMid-November in “Villa Fabbricotti”: most of the trees are bare and brown leaves are everywhere.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Alfredo Neri

Alfredo Neri tugboat, LivornoIt has been a while since the last time I posted a tugboat, so let me introduce the “Alfredo Neri”, here inside the “Porto Mediceo”.Alfredo Neri tugboat, LivornoThe “Alfredo Neri” is a tractor type tug built in 2001 at the Ferrari Shipyard in La Spezia.Alfredo Neri tugboat, LivornoThe final phases of the berthing of the cruise ship “Insignia”.

Search labels: tug

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Cut Logs

Fresh cut logs, LivornoSomebody is at work with a chainsaw in “Villa Maria”.Fresh cut logs, LivornoI'm sure they are cutting only very sick trees.Fresh cut logs, LivornoI am not a tree hugger, but it's always sad to see this in a park.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Myths & Legends

Pegasus, winged horsePegasus, the winged horse, symbol of our Municipal police.Chimera, piazza del Municipio, LivornoThis Everyday Chimera was one of my first posts.Cafè le Fate, LivornoA detail of the sign of the “Caffè le Fate” (The Fairies Cafè).Arab Phoenix bar, LivornoThe “Araba Fenice” (Arab Phoenix) bar, “Via dei Fanciulli”.Sphinx, Palazzo Rosso, LivornoI have already posted the Topless Sphinx, this is her twin sister. This walk is one month old, I saved it for a very rainy Sunday, just like yesterday.

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Sunday, November 21, 2010

Green Walls

Tree on the Fosso Reale, LivornoOn the stone banks of our “fossi” we can find a lot of green: a whole tree near the bridge of “Piazza Cavour”.Tree on the Fosso Reale, LivornoAnother one in the tract in front of the “Benci” elementary school.Walls of the Fortezza Nuova, LivornoA cascade of green on the northern wall of the “Fortezza Nuova”.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Insignia

Insignia cruise ship, LivornoThe cruise ship “Insignia” has just entered the “Porto Mediceo” and is eased toward the “Capitaneria” pier with the help of the tug “Alfredo Neri”.Insignia cruise ship, LivornoTwo “ormeggiatori” (mooring dockworkers) waiting on the pier.Insignia cruise ship, LivornoThe 180 meter ship was built by the STX France in Saint-Nazare in 1998 and sails under the Marshall Islands flag.

Search labels: cruise ship - tug

Friday, November 19, 2010

More Hygieia

Bowl of Hygieia, via Santa Giulia, LivornoAfter my first post about the Bowl of Hygieia I keep seeing this symbol everywhere: on a pharmacy window in “Via Santa Giulia”.Bowl of Hygieia, via Ricasoli, LivornoI have even found a Hygieian door handle in “Via Ricasoli”...Bowl of Hygieia, via Grande, Livorno... and a “Since 1895” sign in “Via Grande”.

See also: Bowl of Hygieia - Caduceus

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Straw Squirrel

Straw squirrel, LivornoI didn't see him at first, he was in a shop window in “Via Roma”.Flat teapot, LivornoSame street, an exotic and unusual teapot.Ladybug hand fanIn “Via Goldoni”, a quite special ladybird is resting on a plant.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Spedali Riuniti

City Hospital, Livorno“Spedali Riuniti” (United Hospitals) is a denomination that was given in 1898 to the “Complesso ospedaliero di Sant'Antonio”, as the adminstrative reunion of a plethora of small hospitals in and around the former prison called “Bagno dei Forzati”.
[Bing Maps image]
The old structure was not the place for a modern hospital so in the late 1920s a new one was built on the city outskirts on a project by the architect Ghino Venturi. Built in the years of the Fascist Era, the building was inaugurated by the King himself in 1931.Galeazzo Ciano coat of armsIt was dedicated to the local Fascist leader Costanzo Ciano, whose coat of arms still hang on the side of the main entrance.City Hospital, LivornoThe administrative building facing “Viale Alfieri”. It seems the time has come for this hospital either, a new one will be built near “Montenero”, pending the results of an upcoming abrogative referendum.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Goodbye T-Rex

Slayed stuffed T-RexI have seen many strange things during my Sunday walks, but a “dead” stuffed T-Rex was completely unexpected...Shutter holder“Via Micali,” a strange holder to keep shutters open.Red car and scooter, LivornoI wonder if the owner of the car and the scooter is the same.Reflection in a shop window, LivornoA striped reflection in “Via Goldoni”.Seagull calling, LivornoA seagull calling his friends, on the “Fosso Reale”.

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