Tuesday, September 30, 2014

The Gate of the Parterre

Restored gate of the Parterre, Sandro Pertini park, viale Carducci, Livorno
The recently restored gate of the Parterre, now Sandro Pertini park. The pillar in background is what is left of a monumental fountain once placed at the corner of Via Garibaldi with Via Galilei. The statue on the top represents Hygieia, the goddess of health. On the body of the column we can find other symbols.

See also: Parterre - Caduceus - Mascaron Fountain
External links: Hygieia (Wikipedia)

Monday, September 29, 2014

Aquiloni in Festa

Aquiloni in Festa, Kites in Feast, Terrazza Mascagni, Livorno
“Aquiloni in Festa” (literally “Kites in Feast”) is an annual event at the Terrazza Mascagni.
Aquiloni in Festa, Kites in Feast, Terrazza Mascagni, Livorno
Last Sunday this festival of sorts attracted kite-flying lovers from the rest of Tuscany.
Aquiloni in Festa, Kites in Feast, Terrazza Mascagni, Livorno
It was a beautiful day, but a bit more wind would have been great.

See also: Terrazza Mascagni
Search labels: Terrazza Mascagni

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Grand Masters

In the park of Villa Fabbricotti we can find the busts of two preeminent Livornese Freemasons: Adriano Lemmi (Livorno, 1822–Florence, 1906) and Alessandro Tedeschi (Livorno, 1867–Saint-Loubès, 1940).
Bust of Adriano Lemmi, Villa Fabbricotti, Livorno
Adriano Lemmi, as Grand Master from 1885 until 1895, was able to reunite all the Masonic observances of the peninsula under the Grande Oriente d'Italia (Grand Orient of Italy).
Bust of Alessandro Tedeschi, Villa Fabbricotti, Livorno
With the advent of the Fascist Era, the Freemasonry was outlawed in Italy and the Grand Orient of Italy was reorganized in France where, in 1931, Alessandro Tedeschi became Grand Master in exile. During the war he was actively sought after by the Gestapo as a Jew, a Mason, and an anti-Fascist. He died in 1940, just before they were able to arrest him.

External links: Grand Orient of Italy

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Fosso in Fiore

Fosso in fiore, scali del Refugio, Livorno
A couple of years ago we saw the first traces of an urban farm on Scali del Refugio.
Fosso in fiore, scali del Refugio, Livorno
Now it is a hanging garden of sorts facing the canal and a sign call it “Fosso in Fiore”, which is literally “blooming canal”.

See also: Urban Farm

Friday, September 26, 2014

Via Paoli

Bicycle at the corner of Via dell'Origine with Via Paoli, Livorno
Bicycle below a dilapidated window against a newly painted and already tagged wall, at the corner of Via Paoli with Via dell'Origine. With weeds.

Search labels: bicycle art
External links: Bicycle Art

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Noordam

Noordam cruise ship, IMO 9230115, port of Livorno
The 285-meter “Noordam” was built in 2006 at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Venice.
Noordam cruise ship, IMO 9230115, port of Livorno
She can carry 1916 passengers with a crew of 800.

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

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Coming Home

Crepuscular rays, Molo Novo, port of Livorno
We are coming back to Livorno. Do not call this a sunset: it is only a show of crepuscular rays...
If you are curious about some pictures taken in London just click here.

See also: Crepuscular Rays - To London
External links: Crepuscular rays (Wikipedia)

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

The Mysterious Frieze

Bas-relief on a facade, via del Risorgimento, Livorno
On the facade of a small building in Via del Risorgimento we can admire one of the most enigmatic pieces of art in town. The fascinating relief is dramatically unfinished or perhaps inspired by some futuristic vision of mankind.

Monday, September 22, 2014

More Road Machines

Ditch Witch horizontal directional drill, Livorno
Still about strange machines seen around town: here is a “Ditch Witch” horizontal directional drill.
Cold paint road marking machine, Porto Mediceo, Livorno
A simpler one: a cold paint road marking machine, in standby inside the Porto Mediceo.

External links: Ditch Witch (Wikipedia)
See also: Cold Milling Machines

Sunday, September 21, 2014

A Century Apart

Via Solferino seen from the Fortezza Nuova, Livorno
Via Solferino with the San Marco Gate in background

Old postcard, via Solferino seen from the Fortezza Nuova, Livorno
Almost the same view via Solferino in the early years of the 1900's

(Postcard digitized from the collection of Antonio Cantelli)
Search labels: postcard
See also: San Marco - Porta San Marco - Via Solferino

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Pegaso 3

I-PAAA, Pegaso 2 helicopter, AgustaWestland AW-139, Livorno
We have already seen “Pegaso 2”. “Pegaso 3” is another one of the three HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Services) aircraft of the Regione Toscana. This one is based in Massa.

See also: The Helipad - Pegaso 2
External links: AgustaWestland AW139 (Wikipedia)


Friday, September 19, 2014

Liberi!

Clet Abraham, piazza del Pamiglione, Livorno
An eye is missing and it has some unrelated add-ons, but is still an unmistakable work of Clet Abraham.
Clet Abraham, piazza del Luogo Pio, Livorno
Piazza del Luogo Pio: in Italian “Liberi” is free in its plural form, on a no entry sign.

See also: Clet Abraham - On the Trail of Clet - Via dell'Olmo - Clet's Studio
External links: Thirty smile an hour zone: Cheeky artist changes road signs with stickers... (Daily Mail)
- The language of the street signs by Clet Abraham (Abitare)
Search labels: Clet Abraham

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

LNG Express

LNG Express, MMSI 247296700, port of Livorno
The “LNG Express” is a high-speed service boat (25 knots) for the crew of the “FSRU Toscana” terminal, the controversial regasification plant anchored 22 km off the Tuscan coast.
LNG Express, MMSI 247296700, port of Livorno
The boat is a Damen Stan Tender 1905, owned by the Fratelli Neri S.p.A and on lease to the terminal.

See also: FSRU Toscana
External links: Stan Tender 1905 (Damen) - Damen Group (Wikipedia)

Monday, September 15, 2014

A Hippogriff

A hippogriff is a legendary animal that has the foreparts of a winged griffin and the body and hindquarters of a horse. His “inventor” was Ludovico Ariosto in his “Orlando furioso”. Within the poem, the hippogriff is extremely fast, can fly around the world and also to the moon: riding this creature the wandering knight Roger is able to free the beautiful Angelica.
Hippogriff on a gate, via Roma, Livorno
Our hippogriff is one of a pair decorating an old gate in Via Roma.

External links: Hippogriff - Orlando Furioso (Wikipedia)

Sunday, September 14, 2014

PWC

PWC Yamaha FX High Output, Polizia di Stato, port of Livorno
A couple of PWCs of the Polizia di Stato (State Police) patrolling the coast and the port.
PWC Yamaha FX High Output, Polizia di Stato, port of Livorno
I am not a fan of scooters but I would really like to ride one of these...
(Pictures taken last August)
External links: Personal water craft - Polizia di Stato (Wikipedia)

Saturday, September 13, 2014

The Man in Yellow

Mega Express Three ferry, IMO 9208083, port of Livorno
A crew member on watch while the “Mega Express Three” ferry enters the Porto Mediceo.

See also: Yellow Ships - Ferries are Back - Bows in a Row - Mega Express Two - Moby Aki & Mega Express Two
Search labels: ferry

Friday, September 12, 2014

Killer Gaze

Grumpy cat, Porto Mediceo, Livorno
I have already called this unsociable cat watch cat and grumpy cat, and his mood was not better last May.
Angry wet cat, Porto Mediceo, Livorno
Considered his disposition in a sunny day, I was happy there were bars between us the day I caught him totally wet, after a sudden downpour last June.

See also: Watch Cat - The Grumpy Cat
Search labels: cat

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Credo

Credo container ship, IMO 9105970, port of Livorno
The 184-meter container ship “Credo” was built in 1996 at the Stocznia Szczecińska in Szczecin, Poland. Launched as “Panamerican”, the ship has changed name at least ten names since. She is en route to Chile.
(Picture taken last July)
External links: Szczecin Shipyard (Wikipedia)

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

To London

British Airways Airbus A318-321 G-EUYB, over the port of Livorno
We will be posting from London for a couple of weeks... Greetings to you all! (Picture taken last May)

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Cold Milling Machines

Cold milling machine, cold planer, piazza del Municipio, Livorno
A cold planer parked in Piazza del Municipio. A cold milling machine removes part of the existing asphalt from a road as part of the process of resurfacing it. Milling smooths the surface and the resulting material can be reused in the new asphalt hot mix. (Picture taken last April)
Cold milling machine, cold planer, viale Marconi, Livorno
Another cold planer ready for the epochal and long awaited resurfacing of Viale Marconi. (Picture taken last June)

External links: Pavement milling (Wikipedia)

Monday, September 8, 2014

Inside San Sebastiano

Interior of the church of San Sebastiano, Livorno
The church of San Sebastiano was built after the plague epidemic of 1632 in honor of Saint Sebastian, the protector of the plague victims. The architect was Giovanni Francesco Cantagallina, brother of Antonio, one of the architects of our Cathedral.

See also: Saint Stephen - San Sebastiano - After the Pestilence

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Ocean Dream

Ocean Dream cruise ship, IMO 7915096, port of Livorno
The “Ocean Dream” is a cruise ship chartered to Peace Boat, a Japanese non-governmental organization, for a cruise around the world. I patiently waited for her departure from our port, but it was getting dark and this is all I got of the ship.
Passengers, Ocean Dream cruise ship, IMO 7915096, port of Livorno
On the other hand I had plenty of time to take pictures of her passengers: some were milling around the ship listening to music and even fishing.
Passengers, Ocean Dream cruise ship, IMO 7915096, port of Livorno
Others were clearly awed by the beauty of the port of Livorno.
Passengers, Ocean Dream cruise ship, IMO 7915096, port of Livorno
The younger ones were obviously taking selfies...

External links: Ocean Dream - Peace Boat (Wikipedia)

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Friday, September 5, 2014

Yemanja

On the wooden fence of a construction site in Viale Caprera:
È triste morire in mare tra le onde di Yemanja, It is sad to die in the sea amid the waves of Yemanja, viale Caprera, Livorno
“È triste morire in mare tra le onde di Yemanja” (It is sad to die in the sea amid the waves of Yemanja)

Triglia, goatfish, viale Caprera, Livorno
A “triglia” or goatfish

External links: Yemaja (Wikipedia)
Search labels: mural

Thursday, September 4, 2014

500,000

Terrazza Mascagni, Livorno
We have already reached quota 500,000 last February, but only combining the results of this blog with the Italian version. This time Livorno Daily Photo has just crossed the mark of half a million page views on its own. By the way, we got 100,000 hits in seven months, traveling at an average of almost 480 a day.

See also: 2000! - Half a Million - Top Ranking Blog
External links: Classifica blog provincia di Livorno (BlogItalia, in Italian)

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

El. Venizelos

The “Eleftherios Venizelos” is a 175-meter ferry of the Anek Lines that was chartered by a consortium of Sardinian entrepeneurs to offer a low-cost alternative to the vessels of the Moby and Corsica Sardinia on the route between Livorno and Olbia.
El Venizelos, IMO 7907673, porto di Livorno
The “El. Venizelos” is the third ship used on this route, after two other ferries (“Lato” and “Sophocles V.”) had technical troubles during the season. Her last run was on Thursday 28, leaving thousand of passengers stranded in Olbia. Unpaid bills are probably the reason behind this sudden stop: however, the next day, the ship was already on her way back to Piraeus.
Sophocles V., IMO 8916607, port of Livorno
Here you can see the other ferry, the “Sophocles V.”, leaving Livorno for Olbia last June.

External links: Anek Lines (Wikipedia)
Search labels: ferry

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Nuit américaine

Lamp posts at night, Fosso Reale, Livorno
It wasn't exactly night, only late dusk, and I admit that a bit of nuit américaine (day for night) was used in this image of lamp posts on the Fosso Reale.

External links: Day for night (Wikipedia)

Monday, September 1, 2014

Theme Day: Rust and Ruins

Dutch church, Chiesa degli Olandesi, scali degli Olandesi, Livorno
It is hard to speak of rust and ruins without remembering our beloved Dutch church.
Dutch church, Chiesa degli Olandesi, scali degli Olandesi, Livorno
The building is still fenced off and its own railing is almost overgrown by weeds.


External links: Temple of the Dutch German Congregation (Wikipedia)
See also: Dutch church - A Good Start
Search labels: Dutch church