Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Late May Walk

White ribbon on a red rear-view mirror, Livorno“Scali Saffi”: a white ribbon on a red rear-view mirror.Italian ice cream sign, LivornoA big cone of “Italian ice cream” in “Via Magenta”.Knocked over sign of men at work, LivornoA knocked over sign of men at work...Iron gate before the front door, LivornoAn iron gate before the front door in “Via Oberdan”.Votive image outside a house, LivornoNot far from the above gate, a small “Madonnina”...

More Walks

Monday, May 30, 2011

Chadburn

Engine order telegraph, E.O.T., chadburnYou have already seen this device, probably in some old movie: it is called engine order telegraph and it was used on the deck of a vessel to request a certain desired speed from the engine room.Engine order telegraph, E.O.T., chadburnThe dials of the two telegraphs are different only for the language used, but “ahead” is on the left above and on the right below.
(Pictures taken on April 11 at the Neri and D'Alesio stands of the 28th TAN)

See also: Neri Group - D'Alesio Group

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Saint Julia

Sancta Julia, bas-relief, piazza Cavour, LivornoOn the same building in “Piazza Cavour” where we have an image of Hercules Labro, we can see another bas-relief representing Saint Julia, the patron saint of Livorno. There are several different versions of the martirdom of the Saint in Corsica, but it seems that some monks from the Gorgona island carried her body to a sepulchre on their land. In 762, Desiderius, king of the Lombards, removed her relics to the Benedictine abbey of Brescia.

See also: Another Walk
External links: Julia of Corsica - The Crucifixion of St Julia by Hieronymus Bosch (Wikipedia)

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Ties

Ties on a rack, Tuttovela village, 28th TAN, LivornoFantasy of ties, “Tuttovela” village at the 28th TAN.
(Photo taken on April 7)

Versione italiana

Friday, May 27, 2011

Armando Picchi

Armando Picchi with the Champions Cup and the Intercontinental Cup
[Photo © inter.it]
Armando Picchi, born in Livorno in 1935, was a renowned football player. He was the captain of the Grande Inter (Great Inter), the team that, in the 1960s, won three “scudetti” (national titles), two European Champions Cups and two Intercontinental Cups.
He died prematurely, from cancer, exactly forty years ago.
Our football stadium is named sfter him.

See also: Armando Picchi (Wikipedia) - Ardenza Stadium

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Missing Saint John

Saint John the Baptist weather vane, LivornoThe “San Giovanni” (Saint John) church weather vane, an image of the saint missing from the John the Baptist post.

See also: John the Baptist - Weather Vane

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Mazzini & Fattori

Giuseppe Mazzini by U. Becchin, LivornoThe profile of Giuseppe Mazzini, from his bust in “Piazza Mazzini”.Giovanni Fattori by Valmore Gemignani, LivornoThe monument to Giovanni Fattori in “Largo del Cisternino”, seen from behind.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Little Sparrows

Little sparrow, Porto Mediceo, LivornoOn a slightly windy day at the “Porto Mediceo” little sparrows tend to come close to you, looking for cover or for food. Fishermen are usually well provided with worms and sometimes they even throw some to the birds.Little sparrow, Porto Mediceo, LivornoI usually don't carry worms and I have always been quite happy with that, until this morning... (Photos taken on April 26)

Monday, May 23, 2011

Statuines

Girl with French bulldog by LladróA couple of Lladró porcelain figurines in “Via Ricasoli”, the first is a “Girl with French bulldog”.A moment's rest by LladróThe other one is a butterfly, but it is called “A moment's rest”.

See also: Girl with French bulldog - A moment's rest (Lladró)

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Giuseppe Micali

Giuseppe Micali by Giovanni Paganucci, Palazzo di Giustizia, LivornoGiuseppe Micali (Livorno 1769 - Florence 1844) was a historian and archeologist, author of “L'Italia avanti il dominio dei Romani” (Italy before Roman rule, 1810) and “Storia degli antichi popoli italiani” (History of the ancient peoples of Italy, 1832).Giuseppe Micali by Giovanni Paganucci, Palazzo di Giustizia, LivornoHis statue was sculpted around al 1862 by the livornese Giovanni Paganucci and was originally placed at the “Liceo Niccolini”. It was moved into the courtyard of the local Courthouse in 1918.

Today we are coming home from our holiday, if you are curious about some pictures taken in Rome just click here.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Friday, May 20, 2011

More Handles

Ornate door handle or knocker, Livorno
“Via della Madonna”

Wooden door handle, Livorno
“Via Ernesto Rossi”

Ornate door handle or knocker, Livorno
“Via Del Fante”

See also: Handles - Three Handles

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Generali's Lion

Assicurazioni Generali winged lion, LivornoA winged lion, the symbol of Saint Mark the Evangelist, marks the building owned by the “Assicurazioni Generali”, by far the largest insurance company in Italy. The company was founded in Trieste in 1831, when the city was still part of the Austrian Empire. The original symbol was the eagle of the Habsburgs, but the Venice division adopted the Saint Mark's Lion for the Italian market. After the return of Trieste to Italy, the Marcian lion became the official symbol of the company.Assicurazioni Generali winged lion, LivornoThe book bears the inscription “Pax tibi, Marce, evangelista meus” (Peace to you, Mark, my evangelist).

See also: Assicurazioni Generali

Monday, May 16, 2011

Wrought Iron Initials

Wrought iron initials, Livorno
“Scali del Ponte di Marmo”

Wrought iron initials, Livorno
“Via del Fagiano”

Wrought iron initials, Livorno
“Via de Larderel”

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Hercules Labro

Hercules Labro, bas-relief, piazza Cavour, LivornoDid you know that Livorno was founded by Hercules himself? It is obviously only a legend, but we have a bas-relief of the demigod on a building in “Piazza Cavour”.

“Thence pursuing his Journey towards Italy, after having first founded Monaco, called Portus Herculis Modoeciae, he flew Ligur (from whom Liguria took its Name) who rashly ventured to oppose him; he then pass'd into Tuscany, in order to chastise Dercilius and Alerion, Sons of Neptune, who had stolen his Oxen and driven them thithier. This Voyage of Hercules remains in Remembrance by giving Name to two Ports, that of Hercules Labro, now Leghorn, and that of Porto Ercole, now belonging to the King of two Sicilies.”

The above quote is from page 24 of “A description of the first discoveries of the ancient city of Herculaneum...” by Niccolò Marcello Venuti (1700-1755), published in Venice in 1749 and reprinted in London in 1750 by Guglielmo Meyer.

External links: “A description of the first discoveries of the ancient city of Herculaneum

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Sunday Boats

Kayak, Fosso Reale, LivornoSome are paddling for fun,Gozzetta, younger rowers of Venezia, Fosso Reale, Livornoothers are rowing for sport,Boats leaving the Darsena Nuova, Livornomany are motoring out of the port for a sunny day at sea.
Instead, we are leaving today for another Roman holiday...

Friday, May 13, 2011

John the Baptist

John the Baptist, mosaic, via Tre Novembre, Livorno“Via San Giovanni” was for a long time the “via Maestra” (main road) through the old village of Livorno, well before the Medicis began to plan their ideal city. Even on a nearby post-war building we can find a mosaic portraying the Baptist in his iconic pose.John the Baptist, via San Giovanni, LivornoThe side entrance of the church of “San Giovanni Battista”, built in the 17th century, with another image of the Baptist. Here there was once the main entrance of a much older (1256) church which gave the name at the street itself.John the Baptist, via Carraia angolo via San Giovanni, LivornoOpposite the church actual main entrance facing “Via Carraia”, in a niche on the corner with “Via San Giovanni”, we can see another statue of the Baptist in an almost comic variation on the traditional pose.

See also: John the Baptist (Wikipedia)

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Works

Piazza del Municipio, LivornoA rickety metal structure materialized in “Piazza del Municipio”: it is clearly unfinished and has probably something to do with the tourists from the cruise ships.Temporary street lights, scali Saffi, LivornoOur temporary lamp posts on the “Scali Saffi” (left) are changing in something better (right). We will have real street lights soon...

See also: Piazza del Municipio - Temporary Forever - Low-Cost Lamp Post

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Around the Water

Wooden boat, Fosso Reale, LivornoDetail of a wooden boat in the “Fosso Reale”.Palazzo dell'Aquila Nera, LivornoThe “Palazzo dell'Aquila Nera” seen from “Piazza Cavour”.Floating gulls, Fosso Reale, LivornoThree gulls floating in the “Fosso Reale”.Tweety and a forklift under the Moby Freedom, LivornoA forklift parked alongside the “Moby Freedom”.Empty bottles of beer and water, LivornoEmpty beer bottles (and one of water) in “Piazza Mazzini”.

Today the “Giro d'Italia”, one of the top road cycling races in the world, comes to Livorno. If you have the chance try to catch on TV the scenic route through our hills and along the lungomare, with the arrival set at the “Terrazza Mascagni

More Walks

Monday, May 9, 2011

Above the Skylight

Boom lift above the roof of the Central Market, LivornoThese brave guys are hovering above the skylight of the “Mercato Centrale” in the basket of a huge cherry picker. They are probably checking the state of the roof, made of Eternit boards, hence the protective gear.Cherry picker on the roof of the Central Market, LivornoThe truck parked on the side of the “Mercato Centrale”.Maneuvering the boom lift of a huge cherry picker, LivornoFrom below, a co-worker is carefully maneuvering the boom lift.

See also: On Top - Cherry Pickers