Friday, May 30, 2014

Super Hercules

Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules, Pisa
The C-130, in its more recent versions, is still the workhorse of the 46th Air Brigade. This is a C-130J-30, a stretch version of the original model, with a fuselage extended of 4.6 m (15 ft) its maximum payload is almost 20 tons, with a range of 1900 miles.
Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules, Pisa
The inside of the same aircraft, with the ramp closed. By the way, my first flight experience, almost forty years ago, was on a C-130.

External links: Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules (Wikipedia) - 46ª Brigata Aerea (Italian Air Force)
See also: Pisa - Lübeck - 46th Air Brigade

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Bar Mediceo

Wooden table and seatings, Bar Mediceo, piazza dell'Arsenale, Livorno
Waiting for customers at the “Bar Mediceo” in Piazza dell'Arsenale. (Picture taken last April)

See also: Six Stools - Quo Vadis

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Heidelberg Express

Container ship Heidelberg Express, IMO 8711370, port of Livorno
The “Heidelberg Express” is a 235-meter container ship built in 1989 by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft at their Kiel shipyard, in Germany. Have you noticed the two men on a pontoon at the bow?

See also: Lisbon Express - Hapag-Lloyd - M/V Lisbon Express
External links: Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (Wikipedia) - Hapag-Lloyd Vessels (Hapag-Lloyd)

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Monday, May 26, 2014

Railway Faces

Platform roof faces, Livorno Centrale railway station
In 1910, when they built the railway station of Livorno Centrale, it was probably fashionable to put a series of faces like this one on the side of the platforms roof.
Platform roof faces, Livorno Centrale railway station
Smaller and sometimes not yet repainted heads are placed on the side of all the platforms roofs.
Platform roof faces, Livorno Centrale railway station
The bigger faces are present only on the elevated roof of the first track. By the way, this is the train that was carrying cieldequimer of Versailles Daily Photo and her friend Catherine to Livorno.

See also: Livorno Centrale - Livorno Train Station

Sunday, May 25, 2014

The North Lighthouse

We do not post as many old postcards as we used to, but we do not really like to watermark pictures. Sadly, the usual slobs keep posting these images without acknowledging the source.
The north lighthouse of the Molo Novo, Livorno
The lighthouse at the northern end of the “Diga Curvilinea” (Curvilinear Breakwater), in a vintage postcard.
The north lighthouse of the Molo Novo, Livorno
The same tower, seen from a different angle. A more recent structure now lies further north: the “Diga della Meloria” (Meloria Breakwater). In both images you can see old cannons recycled as bollards.

(Postcard digitized from the collection of Antonio Cantelli)
Search labels: postcard
See also: Over the Porto Mediceo - Molo Novo

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Double Reflection

Double reflection, Piazza Mazzini, Livorno
Double reflection in Piazza Mazzini, after a windy day. (Picture taken last February)

Friday, May 23, 2014

46th Air Brigade

Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules, Pisa
Pisa is the home of the 46ª Brigata Aerea (46th Air Brigade), the only transport wing in the Italian Air Force. Among its roles are the aerial delivery of paratroopers and material, the transport of equipment, tactical and special operations. The aircraft are also used for emergency medical services and as support for several humanitarian and civilian activities.
Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules, Pisa
The transport brigade is composed by three units: the 2nd and 50th Flight Units are equipped with C-130J and C-130J-30 aircraft, while the 98th Flight Unit uses the C-27J.

External links: 46ª Brigata Aerea (Italian Air Force) - Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules - Alenia C-27J Spartan (Wikipedia)
See also: Pisa - Lübeck

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

How Many People?

Cruise ship Nieuw Amsterdam, IMO 9378450, port of Livorno
With 2100 passengers and a crew of 900, how many people can you see on board the “Nieuw Amsterdam”, a 285-meter cruise ship ?

External links: MS Nieuw Amsterdam - Holland America Line (Wikipedia)
Search labels: cruise ship

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

The Gull

Gull on the walls of the Fortezza Vecchia, Livorno
A gull on the walls of the Fortezza Vecchia. (You can enlarge the image up to 1600 x 1200 pixels)

Search labels: gull
See also: Fortezza Vecchia

Monday, May 19, 2014

Through the Arch

Ovo Sodo support boat, Fosso Reale, Livorno
The “Ovo Sodo” (Benci Centro) support team is waiting to lead its rowers to a training session.
Ovo Sodo rowers and their support boat, Fosso Reale, Livorno
Through the arch of the San Benedetto bridge we can see the rowers coming from their “cantina”.
Support boat towing the Ovo Sodo gozzo, Fosso Reale, Livorno
The motor boat begin to pull the “gozzo” along the “Fosso Reale”, heading toward the open waters.

See also: Gozzi & Gozzette - Palio Marinaro 2012 - Ovo Sodo at Sunset
Search labels: rowing

Sunday, May 18, 2014

28 Lamp Posts

New canal, Venice quarter, viale Caprera, Livorno
Two lines of brand-new lamp posts along the new canal in the Venice quarter, a slight improvement from the situation below, which goes back to last February. You can also evaluate the cosmetic touches on the isthmus of Crocetta, which is still blocking the two halves of the canal.
New canal, Venice quarter, viale Caprera, Livorno
In both images the steel girders, in foreground and in background, still lie where the two promised and still undelivered footbridges should have been.

See also: A New Canal - The Non-Bridge of Crocetta - The Isthmus of Crocetta - Duckspeak
External links: Ministry of Truth - Newspeak (Wikipedia)
Search labels: new canal

Friday, May 16, 2014

Pisa - Lübeck

Last Wednesday we have been able to visit the base of the “Aeronautica Militare” (Italian Air Force) which is part of the airport of Pisa. The first effect of this were some close-up pictures of commercial aircraft.
Ryanair Boeing 737-8AS, EI-EPD, airport of Pisa
A Ryanair Boeing 737-8AS taking off in front of the control tower of the airport.
Ryanair Boeing 737-8AS, EI-EPD, airport of Pisa
The aircraft, with the logo “Krakow & Malopolska”, was departing for a flight to Lübeck, in Germany.

External links: Italian Air Force - Boeing 737 - Ryanair (Wikipedia)
See also: Livorno Airport

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Morning Laura

Porto Baratti, IMO 9167887, port of Livorno
The “Porto Baratti” tug has just received a line from the bow of the “Morning Laura”, entering the port.
PCTC Morning Laura, IMO 9445992, port of Livorno
The 232-meter PCTC (pure car/truck carrier), built in 2010, has a capacity of 8011 CEU (car-equivalent units). For a better idea of this kind of ships you may visit one of them on the shipping company's website.
Piero Neri tug, IMO 9351713, port of Livorno
The “Piero Neri” tug at the stern of the ship, where is clearly visible the car carrier's huge main ramp.

External links: Car Carriers (Wikipedia) - Visit a ship (Eukor)
See also: Piero Neri
Search labels: tug

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Monday, May 12, 2014

The Original Statues

Church of the Most Holy Annunciation, chiesa della Santissima Annunziata, Livorno
A couple of years ago, after a thorough cleaning of the facade, two resin copies of the original statues of Innocence and Mansuetude went back to their place above the entrance of the Santissima Annunziata (Most Holy Annunciation) church.
Church of the Most Holy Annunciation, chiesa della Santissima Annunziata, Livorno
The statues were missing from the facade since the almost complete destruction of the building in the Second World War. The original sculptures are now visible in the vestibule of the church.

See also: United Greeks - Inside United Greeks - Chiesa della Santissima Annunziata - Annunciation - Innocence and Mansuetude - How Did They Get Up There?

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Around the Fortress

Fortezza Nuova, Livorno
Many younger kids have never been before inside the recently reopened Fortezza Nuova.
Fortezza Nuova, Livorno
I have never been able to discover if this teepee of sorts had some kind of cover.
Fortezza Nuova, Livorno
A bench with a view and a nicely restored cannon at hand.

See also: Fortezza Nuova (2009) - Fortress from the Sky (2012) - Welcome to the Fortress - The Grass of the Fortress - Along the Walls - The Hill on the Fortress - Sala degli Archi
Search labels: Fortezza Nuova

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Sunset from the Bridge

Sunset from the swing bridge, port of Livorno
This blog doesn't do sunsets and I am not very fond of them. But, as the Latin proverb says, semel in anno licet insanire (once a year one is allowed to go crazy).

See also: Swing Bridge - Open Bridge - Swing Bridge Tower

Friday, May 9, 2014

Anni Verdi

Livorno
“Anni Verdi” is Green Years, but the car is definitely yellow.
Livorno
“Rubino” is ruby in Italian. The car is not exactly ruby red, but it is at least red.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Quo Vadis

Chairs and tables, Quo Vadis, piazza dell'Arsenale, Livorno
Chairs and tables waiting for customers at the “Quo Vadis” sandwich shop in Piazza dell'Arsenale.

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

AIDAmar

Cruise ship AIDAmar, IMO 9490052, port of Livorno
The 253-meter “AIDAmar” was launched in April 2012 at the Meyer Werft shipyard, in Germany.
Cruise ship AIDAmar, IMO 9490052, port of Livorno
With a crew of 620 she can carry 2600 passengers. “AIDAmar” is the sixth ship of the Sphinx class built for AIDA Cruises.

See also: Red Lips
External links: AIDAmar - AIDA Cruises - Meyer Werft (Wikipedia)
Search labels: cruise ship

Monday, May 5, 2014

Palazzo Santa Elisabetta

Palazzo Santa Elisabetta, piazza Attias, Livorno
The Palazzo Santa Elisabetta was built between 1858 and 1860 opposite Villa Attias. Today it is practically the only notable building of the period in Piazza Attias. Adriana Poli di Montaperto, known as duchess of Santa Elisabetta, bought it 1874 and organized there one of the most important literary salons of Livorno.
Palazzo Santa Elisabetta, piazza Attias, Livorno
On her death she left the building in equal parts to the diocese and the municipality, with a provision that its revenues were to be used to fund scholarships.

See also: Piazza Attias

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Félicie de Fauveau

Félicie de Fauveau was a nineteenth-century French sculptress who was born in Livorno in 1801 (some sources say 1799). She spent her childhood in Florence and studied painting and sculpture in Paris. Her studio was frequented by artists such as Paul Delaroche and Ary Scheffer, who also painted her portrait.
Portrait of Félicie de Fauveau, by Ary Scheffer
In 1834 Félicie de Fauveau, a dedicated Legitimist, joined her mother in voluntary exile in Florence, where she spent the rest of her life.
Burial monument of Anne de la Pierre, by Félicie de Fauveau, Santa Maria del Carmine, Florence
This is sepulchral monument honoring the artist's mother (1859), Anne de la Pierre, in the cloister of Santa Maria del Carmine, in Florence.
Burial monument of Louise de Favreau, by Félicie de Fauveau, Santa Croce, Florence
Still in Florence, on the upper loggia of the first cloister of Santa Croce , you can see the burial monument for the seventeen-year-old Louise de Favreau (1854).

External links: Félicie de Fauveau - Ary Scheffer - Santa Maria del Carmine - Santa Croce (Wikipedia)

Saturday, May 3, 2014

The Gull's Castle

Gull on a turret, Livorno
Probably some gulls are becoming full of themselves...

Search labels: gull

Friday, May 2, 2014

La Bodeguita

VDP meets LDP, La Bodeguita, Livorno
After a few meetings in the Île-de-France and two more recent ones in Florence, Versailles Daily Photo and Livorno Daily Photo have finally met in our hometown. Cieldequimper and her friend Catherine made a day trip to Livorno to see the city, the port, the Terrazza Mascagni, and then to rest a bit at “La Bodeguita”, on a canal in the Venice quarter.

See also: LDP meets VDP - LDP & VDP - 14 juillet - VDP & LDP in Florence - VDP & LDP in Florence #2