Saturday, August 31, 2013

The Trellis

Pamela Ognissanti square, Livorno
We have already seen this place a while ago, it is just on the left of the Slice of Cake.

See also: Slice of Cake

Friday, August 30, 2013

Lari Vasco's Bakery

Tiled sign, Lari Vasco's bakery, via Palestro, Livorno
Via Palestro, Lari Vasco's bakery: pizze, focacce, biscotti (pizzas, focaccias, cookies).

External links: Focaccia (Wikipedia)

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Thomson Dream

Cruise ship Thomson Dream, Mastio di Matilde, Fortezza Vecchia, Livorno
Beyond the brick walls of the “Fortezza Vecchia”, the round tower called “Mastio di Matilde” (Matilda's Keep) is visible next to the chimney of the cruise ship “Thomson Dream”.

Search labels: Fortezza Vecchia - cruise ship

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

A Study of Rust

Steel rust and brass oxidation against a background of rusted iron, port of Livorno
Steel rust and brass oxidation against a background of rusted iron.

Monday, August 26, 2013

Clet in Venice

It is obviously not the real Venice, not many traffic signs for Clet Abraham there, but our Venezia quarter. The Breton artist was present at an exhibition in his honor and left all around some of his new creations.
Clet Abrahams, alien invasion from a no-entry sign, via Borra, Livorno
An alien invasion in Via Borra

Clet Abrahams, crushed arrow sign, via della Venezia, Livorno
A crushed arrow in Via della Venezia

Clet Abrahams, sculptor at work on a no-entry sign, via della Madonna, Livorno
A sculptor at work on a no-entry sign in Via della Madonna.

Search labels: Clet Abraham
External links: Clet Abraham (Wikipedia, in French) - The language of the street signs by Clet Abraham (Abitare)

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Terme del Corallo

Architectural model by Franco Gizdulich, Terme del Corallo, Livorno
Being quite tired to show you old black and white postcards or the sad reality of today's ruins, I am going to show you the “Terme del Corallo” as they really were.
Architectural model by Franco Gizdulich, Terme del Corallo, Livorno
Franco Gizdulich, a Florence-based architect specialized in architectural models, kindly allowed me to use these images of his model of the “Terme del Corallo”.
Architectural model by Franco Gizdulich, Terme del Corallo, Livorno
The original model was made for Livorno's water utility and it is probably still at its headquarters.
Architectural model by Franco Gizdulich, Terme del Corallo, Livorno
[Images by Franco Gizdulich]
Search labels: spa
External links: Terme “Il Corallo” – Livorno (Franco Gizdulich, Architectural models)
See also: The Waters of Health - The Beauty of Decay - Parco delle Terme - The Waters of Health: Hallway - Spa Terrace - Hall of the Five Waters - Acquarium - Salubritatem aegris corporibus - Curator acquarum

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Black and Orange

Black bicycle, orange background, via Calzabigi, Livorno
A simple and elegant black bicycle with basket and orange background.

Search labels: bicycle art
External links: Bicycle Art (Inspiration Green)

Friday, August 23, 2013

Taking Pictures

A few more shots by Trillian on Ferragosto.
Ferragosto, port of Livorno
I will never understand how people can be fond of a picture taken like that. Photographically speaking.
Ferragosto, port of Livorno
I never saw this one coming: your truly was caught shooting something in a desert part of the port.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Benci Panorama

Antonio Benci elementary school, scali degli Olandesi, Livorno
I am getting a taste for panoramic views: this one was stitched together from three overlapping photos.

See also: Antonio Benci School

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

More Ferragosto

Trillian still knows how to take pictures, even if she does it rarely. Here are her Ferragosto's photos.
Ferragosto, port of Livorno
This almost looked like a chase scene between the two speeding boats...
Ferragosto, port of Livorno
...but it ended up with one of the chasers striking a pose!

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Monday, August 19, 2013

Gorgona's Wine

Flights landing to Pisa usually approach the airport from the sea and the first sign of the coast is this view of the island of Gorgona, our island prison and now a quality vineyard. Check the following piece of news and, if you like, follow the link below for the whole article.
Island of Gorgona seen from a plane, Livorno
“High on a hillside overlooking the azure sea on a small Mediterranean island, two brawny men toil under the sun in a vineyard that has just released a 50-euro ($66) wine destined for the tables of top restaurants. This is not an exclusive wine estate or secluded retreat for the rich, despite the tranquil beauty. It is, rather, the residence of men serving long sentences for some of Italy's most notorious and brutal crimes, on an island named after monstrous sisters in Greek mythology with snakes for hair.
Gorgona, the smallest of the Tuscan archipelago that also includes Elba, where Napoleon was incarcerated, is home to a project to rehabilitate hardened criminals through agriculture.”

See also: Island Prison - Gorgona
External links: Gorgona - Tuscan Archipelago (Wikipedia)
Search labels: Gorgona

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Ferragosto 2013

We had an excellent Ferragosto with a light breeze mitigating the heat, the perfect weather for a walk.
Ferragosto, boats, port of Livorno
Some tourists at the beginning of their tour of Livorno canals on a boat. No parasols needed today.
Ferragosto, boats, port of Livorno
A lonely kayaker bravely fighting the waves of the many passing boats.
Ferragosto, boats, port of Livorno
The north entrance of the port is used only by small boats and never by ships. The faraway silhouette of the Northern Tuscany mountains is visible in background.

External links: Ferragosto (Wikipedia)

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Friday, August 16, 2013

Wanted

On a wall, a strange stencil about a legendary drug lord who has been dead for at least twenty years.
Se busca Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria stencil, Livorno
Se busca Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria
solicitado por la justicia
$ 2.700.000.000.00
dos mil setecientos millones de Pesos
(Wanted Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria
sought by the law
$ 2.700.000.000.00
two thousand seven hundred million Pesos)

External links: Pablo Escobar (Wikipedia)

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Summer Day at Sea

Boats leaving the Porto Mediceo, Livorno
The photo was taken last Sunday, but you get a pretty good idea of the boats traffic on a hot summer day.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

The Old Gym

Entrance of the Cassa di Risparmi gym, via Bosi, Livorno
The entrance of the “Cassa di Risparmi” gym in Via Bosi: weeds, tags and empty beer bottles...

See also: Tug of War

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Red and Gold

New parking structure, via dell'Angiolo, Livorno
Once there was the “Cinema Moderno” here, now we have one more parking structure with a garish gold and red facade.

See also: Cinema Odeon - La Gran Guardia - Cinema Moderno - Cinema Metropolitan

Monday, August 12, 2013

Who Stole Clet's Heart

Turn left arrow with pierced heart, Clet Abraham, piazza del Municipio, Livorno
This is the first traffic sign “improved” by Clet Abraham I saw in March 2012. I deleted the two old stickers because I didn't like them: you can see below how the image was posted.
Turn left arrow with pierced heart, Clet Abraham, piazza del Municipio, Livorno
In due time the municipality removed all the Clet's signs, selling some on eBay and keeping the others in storage. Some were used for the recent Clet Abraham's Exhibition and just a few days after that, I saw something strange.
Turn left arrow, piazza del Municipio, Livorno
That first sign was still around, with the unmistakable ugly stickers, but without the heart, which is itself a sticker. Someone lifted it and maybe used it on a cleaner sign... Who stole Clet's heart?

Search labels: Clet Abraham
External links: Clet Abraham (Wikipedia, in French) - The language of the street signs by Clet Abraham (Abitare)

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Curator aquarum

Vintage postcard, Curator aquarum, management building, Terme del Corallo, Acque della Salute, Livorno
The spa management building sits opposite the “Acquarium” and once again the architects of the complex took inspiration from Sextus Julius Frontinus for the Latin inscription on the facade: Curator aquarum.
Vintage postcard, curator aquarum, management building, Terme del Corallo, Acque della Salute, Livorno
The sorry condition of the same building last June.
(Postcard digitized from the collection of Antonio Cantelli)

External links: Frontinus (Wikipedia) - de Aquaeductu Urbis Romae by Sestus Iulius Frontinus (in Latin)
Search labels: spa - postcard
See also: The Waters of Health - The Beauty of Decay - Parco delle Terme - The Waters of Health: Hallway - Spa Terrace - Hall of the Five Waters - Acquarium - Salubritatem aegris corporibus

Saturday, August 10, 2013

The Grumpy Cat

Not so sociable cat, Porto Mediceo, Livorno
Do you remember the wacth cat? As you can see he is still his joyous self...

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

Friday, August 9, 2013

Guzzi 1934

Guzzi 1934 vintage motorcycle, Livorno
A Guzzi 1934 motorcycle, still functioning properly, parked near the Pamiglione. In background a less fortunate bicycle uselessly locked to the railings.

Search labels: bicycle art
External links: Moto Guzzi (Wikipedia) - Bicycle Art (Inspiration Green)

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Schools of Dance

Dance schools, ArteEsistenza, teatro Goldoni, Livorno
The students of the local dance schools in front of the Goldoni Theater, last July for ARTEesistenza.
Dance schools, ArteEsistenza, teatro Goldoni, Livorno

Search labels: ARTEesistenza
See also: ARTEesistenza - Coro Garibaldi d'Assalto - Laboratorio Brecht Dance

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

On the Anchor

Sea Princess, IMO: 9150913, port of Livorno
Do not bother with the pilot boat, look at the guy standing on the anchor of the “Sea Princess”...

See also: Big Screen
Search labels: cruise ship
External links: Sea Princess (Wikipedia)

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Rigoletto

Rigoletto rehearsal, piazza XX Settembre, Livorno
In Italian “sparare alla Croce Rossa” (shooting on the Red Cross) is usually said when you abuse of an easy target. I won't do that with this “Rigoletto”: the opera closes “Effetto Venezia”, which is a good thing per se.
Rigoletto rehearsal, piazza XX Settembre, Livorno
You are probably aware of the rethorical device of apophasis (or praeteritio), which is often used to call attention to something, while remaining apparently detached from it. So you will not be surprised if I go on saying that listening to an opera in a city square amid barking dogs, shouting children and passing vehicles is pure folly. Badly amplifying the voices and the music won't amend it at all.
Rigoletto rehearsal, piazza XX Settembre, Livorno
If our administration feels necessary to offer an opera to a few hundred of its citizens, it would be more reasonable and absolutely cheaper to bus them to some quality performance outisde Livorno. The Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago comes to mind...

See also: Caballeria Rusticana - Το ελιξίριο της αγάπης
Search labels: Effetto Venezia

Monday, August 5, 2013

Old Silos

Old silos, Porto Mediceo, Livorno
You may have already noticed this decrepit bulding lurking in the background of pictures of ferries and cruise ships. This is one of our most conspicuous cases of decay: a group of old silos inside the Porto Mediceo which is hardly a welcoming sight for any tourist coming from the sea.
Vecchi sili, Porto Mediceo, Livorno
Some wanted to tear down the building, others would have liked to transform it in a hotel: it would obviously stay there forever...

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Laboratorio Brecht Dance

Laboratorio Brecht Dance, ARTEesistenza, Teatro Goldoni, Livorno
Still in occasion of the third day of ARTEesistenza, another event in front of the Goldoni Theater.
Laboratorio Brecht Dance, ARTEesistenza, Teatro Goldoni, Livorno
We can see in action the Laboratorio Brecht Dance with Maurizio Muzzi.

Search labels: ARTEesistenza
See also: ARTEesistenza - Coro Garibaldi d'Assalto

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Clet Abraham's Exhibition

Clet Abraham's exhibition, La Bottega del Caffè, Livorno
We deserve your eternal gratitude for venturing through the smelly and sweaty heart of “Effetto Venezia” to explore an exhibition of some of Clet Abraham's “improved” traffic signs.
Clet Abraham's exhibition, La Bottega del Caffè, Livorno
This was perhaps the only still unreleased (on this blog) sign on display. You can see all the others here.

Search labels: Clet Abraham - Effetto Venezia
External links: Clet Abraham (Wikipedia, in French) - The language of the street signs by Clet Abraham (Abitare)

Friday, August 2, 2013

FSRU Toscana

FSRU Toscana, IMO 9253284, Offshore Livorno
[Photo LNG World News]
This huge beast (288m x 48m) is a Floating Storage Re-gasification Unit (FSRU) and is now arrived at her offshore site, 12 miles off Livorno coast. The former LNG carrier, modified in Dubai, will be now connected to the pipes laid at the time by the “Castoro 7”. Other carriers will deliver their liquefied gas to the “FSRU Toscana” which will be able to store it, bringing it back to gas and pumping it to the mainland. Many say this is a very dangerous plant set in a delicate area of our sea, surely it won't ever be a tourist attraction.

See also: Castoro 7
External links: FSRU Toscana Sets Off from Drydocks World, UAE (LNG World News) - Floating production storage and offloading - Liquefied natural gas (Wikipedia)