Sunday, November 30, 2014

PIUSS

Dogana d'acqua building, Livorno
PIUSS is an acronym for “Piano Integrato di Sviluppo Urbano Sostenibile” (Integrated Plan for Sustainable Urban Development), which is part of the V Axis of the POR CReO, or “Programma Operativo Regionale Competitività Regionale e Occupazione” (Regional Operational Programme Regional Competitiveness and Employment).
Dogana d'acqua building, Livorno
I didn't made this up: the works going on around the Dogana d'acqua are part of a PIUSS project, another one is what I have called a horror in plain view. This is a form of co-financing between public subjects which other cities use to fix parks or create pedestrian areas. We build strange new buildings around old ruins.
As you can see in this rendering of the project, we also insist in digging useless bodies of water in a city with a lot of potholed streets and too few parking areas. (The first picture was taken in August and the second in October)

See also: Scali Cerere Footbridge - Customs on the Water - Dogana d'acqua - Canale dei Navicelli - Leopoldine Walls
External links: Canale dei Navicelli (Wikipedia)

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Embraer E-195

Embraer ERJ-190-200LR 195LR, over the port of Livorno
An Air Dolomiti Embraer E-195 en route from Munich to Pisa, flying over the port of Livorno.

External links: Embraer E-Jet family - Air Dolomiti (Wikipedia)

Friday, November 28, 2014

Mailmen's Building

via San Giovanni, Livorno
I made up the name of this apartment building: it doesn't have a name, but it was built in Via San Giovanni in the early 1900s for the employees of what was then the Royal Italian Mail. It has an inner court and some interesting reliefs on the facade and also all around the top floor.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

One More Demonstration

Unions demonstration, piazza della Repubblica, Livorno
One more demonstration for employment, this time organized by the major unions.

See also: Livorno Won't Give Up

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

M/V Rita Schepers

Rita Schepers container ship, IMO 9134622, port of Livorno
We saw the container ship “Rita Schepers” last summer, while she was undergoing some maintenance works here in Livorno. After a few months she is back in service and in our port.

See also: Rita Schepers
External links: Port of Livorno (Pinterest)

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Winged Victory

Winged Victory by Mario Carlesi, Piazza della Vittoria, Livorno
This “Winged Victory”, by the sculptor Mario Carlesi, stands on the top of the monument to the soldiers fallen in World War I. The memorial was erected in 1925 in Piazza Magenta, which was then renamed Piazza della Vittoria (Victory Square). In background we can see the facade of the church of Santa Maria del Soccorso.

See also: Fallen - Piazza della Vittoria - Santa Maria del Soccorso

Monday, November 24, 2014

Four Taps

Drinking fountain with four taps, Piazza del Municipio, Livorno
A new drinking fountain with four taps in Piazza del Municipio. The body of the fountain was made from the base of an old lamp post and it is placed just behind the stop of the shuttle buses which carry cruise passengers in town. Now our guests will be able to quench their thirst, but there are still no public bathrooms available for them.

See also: Piazza del Municipio - A New Look - Without Water - Habemus aquam!

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Via De-Lardarelli

Piazza della Repubblica, Livorno
A building at the corner of Via de Larderel with Piazza della Repubblica. (Picture taken last August)
Old postcard, Piazza Carlo Alberto, Livorno
The same building visible in a 1913 postcard of Piazza Carlo Alberto, which was renamed Piazza della Repubblica (Republic Square) after the fall of the monarchy. Please note that Via de Larderel was funnily spelled as “Via De-Lardarelli”.
(Postcard digitized from the collection of Antonio Cantelli)
Search labels: postcard
See also: Piazza della Repubblica - Palazzo de Larderel

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Made of Cork

Miniature cork car, Naturalia, Livorno
I spotted this little masterpiece half-hidden on a desk, at the entrance of “Naturalia”...

See also: Naturalia - Himalayan Salt Lamps - Teas and Infusions

Friday, November 21, 2014

Irresistible Force

Bicycle rack with broken bike, via Pieroni, Livorno
Bicycle rack in Via Pieroni.

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

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Matching Colors

Pilot boat, port of Livorno
A pilot boat speeds along the hull of the bulk carrier “Turgut Reis”. (Picture taken last August)

See also: Turgut Reis
External links: Port of Livorno (Pinterest)

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Teas and Infusions

Naturalia, Livorno
I met this lady at “Naturalia”: she was selling teas and infusions, but I took her picture anyway.

See also: Naturalia - Himalayan Salt Lamps - Made of Cork

Monday, November 17, 2014

Cinema Jolly

Cinema Jolly, Livorno
It was built in 1913 as “Salone Margherita”, but we always knew it as “Cinema Jolly”, the name probably changed after the war, when it became a quite popular cheap movie theater.
Cinema Jolly, Livorno
Its last incarnation was as an adult movie theater, when such a thing still existed.
Cinema Jolly, Livorno
The building has been closed and almost abandoned for a while, but it is now undergoing some refurbishing to transform it in a commercial space: a definite improvement, at least in this case.
Cinema Jolly, Livorno
Let us hope that at least some of the interesting decorations will be preserved.

Search labels: cinema

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Livorno Won't Give Up

Demonstration across the center, Livorno
Yesterday, on a rainy Saturday afternoon, a demonstration of thousands of people has crossed the center of Livorno, from Piazza della Vittoria to Piazza Cavallotti. They were protesting against the loss of jobs caused by a string of factory closures, which will have a severe impact on the already dire state of our city's economy.
Demonstration across the center, Livorno
Last October TRW Automotive, now owned by the German group ZF Friedrichshafen, has announced the closing of its plant in Livorno, with the layoff hundreds of workers. “Livorno non si piega” (Livorno won't give up) was one of the most repeated slogans during the demonstration.

External links: TRW Automotive - ZF Friedrichshafen (Wikipedia)

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Eurocopter EC155

Eurocopter EC-155B-1 over the port of Livorno
An Eurocopter EC155 flying over the port of Livorno. (Picture taken last September)

External links: Eurocopter EC155 (Wikipedia)

Friday, November 14, 2014

I Like You a Lot

Declaration of love posters, viale Caprera, Livorno
Last August it was Yemanja, while in October it changed to this. Now it is a declaration of love of sorts: “Greta: ma te lo devo scrivere sui manifesti che mi garbi un casino??? Tommaso V.” (Greta: but have I to write it on posters that I like you a lot??? Tommaso V.)

See also: Yemanja - After Yemanja
Search labels: mural

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Himalayan Salt Lamps

Himalayan salt lamps, Naturalia, Cruise Terminal, Livorno
Naturalia” was not really my turf, but I saw a few things I almost liked: these lamps are carved from large crystals of Himalayan salt and have a light bulb inside.

External links: Himalayan salt (Wikipedia)
See also: Naturalia - Teas and Infusions - Made of Cork

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Sardinia Vera

Sardinia Vera ferry, IMO 7360617, port of Livorno
The ferry “Sardinia Vera” maneuvering to enter the port.
Sardinia Vera ferry, IMO 7360617, port of Livorno
At the stern some crew members are ready for the mooring operations.

External links: Port of Livorno (Pinterest)
Search labels: ferry

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Monday, November 10, 2014

Naturalia

Naturalia, Cruise Terminal, Livorno
This weekend our cruise terminal, which is more a ferry terminal, hosted the fourth edition of “Naturalia”, an expo about “100% natural ideas”.
Naturalia, Cruise Terminal, Livorno
Feeling guilty because I have missed all the previous editions, I decided to have a look around the exhibition.
Naturalia, Cruise Terminal, Livorno
There was a red area for food, a blue area for health, a quite predictable green area for environment and a blue area for tourism.

See also: Himalayan Salt Lamps - Teas and Infusions - Made of Cork

Sunday, November 9, 2014

El Atlas Medici de Lorenzo Possi

We do not know much about Lorenzo Possi beyond that he was a military engineer who mostly worked at the service of the king of Spain. At the end of his career he was rewarded for his services, by the Grand Duke of Tuscany, with the title of commander of what is now the Fortezza Vecchia, in Livorno.
Piante di Estremadura e Catalogna, El Atlas Medici de Lorenzo Possi, 4 Gatos, Badajoz
Here Possi prepared “Piante di Estremadura e Catalogna”, a detailed atlas describing, with plans and views, the fortifications he had contributed to build in the Iberian Peninsula.
After completing this work in 1687, he dedicated it to Ferdinando de' Medici, Grand Prince of Tuscany, the son of Cosimo III. The first printed and annotated edition of his book was presented last October in Spain by a group of scholars of the University of Extremadura, at Badajoz. The authors also used some pictures from our blog, with our permission. They were also so kind to send us a fresh copy of this wonderful book.

External links: El Atlas Medici de Lorenzo Possi - 1687 (4 Gatos, in Spanish)
- Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany - Ferdinando de' Medici, Grand Prince of Tuscany (Wikipedia)
See also: Fortezza Vecchia

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Friday, November 7, 2014

Fiat 508 Balilla

Fiat 508 Balilla, Tuttovela, Livorno
The Fiat 508, better known as Balilla, was the first model of car in Italy affordable for the average person.
Fiat 508 Balilla, Tuttovela, Livorno
The 508 was small, lightweight and easy to drive: in 1937 Fiat produced over 110,000 Balillas.
(Pictures taken last April)
External links: Fiat 508 (Wikipedia)
Search labels: vintage car

Thursday, November 6, 2014

6 PM

Porta a Mare shopping center, Livorno
A quiet moment at the “Porta a Mare” (Gate to the Sea) shopping center.

See also: A New Shopping Center

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

HMS Falken

Swedish Navy sailship Falken (S02), port of Livorno
The 39-meter “Falken” is a sail training ship of the Swedish Navy, technically a schooner with a crew of fifteen.
Swedish Navy sailship Falken (S02), port of Livorno
She was built in 1947 at a shipyard in Stockholm, along with her sister ship “Gladan”, and carries up to 38 cadets.
Swedish Navy sailship Falken (S02), port of Livorno
The officers and the cadets of the “Falken” attended a reception at the Naval Academy of Livorno. The ship left the port on Friday evening in route to Ajaccio, in Corsica.

External links: Swedish Navy - Schooner - Italian Naval Academy (Wikipedia) - Port of Livorno (Pinterest)
Search labels: sailship

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Infinite Reflections

Vandalized traffic mirrors, scali del Vescovado, Livorno
Scali del Vescovado: vandalized traffic mirrors or a symbolically introspective work of art?

Monday, November 3, 2014

Four Angels

Sculpture representing an angel, San Benedetto church, LivornoSculpture representing an angel, San Benedetto church, Livorno
Sculpture representing an angel, San Benedetto church, LivornoSculpture representing an angel, San Benedetto church, Livorno
On the pendentives of the dome of the church of San Benedetto we can see four angels. The reliefs are the work of the local sculptor Paolo Emilio Demi (1798-1863), who is also the author of the monument to Leopold II of Tuscany in Piazza XX Settembre, just in front of the same church.

See also: San Benedetto - Leopold II of Tuscany
External links: Pendentive (Wikipedia) - Dante Alighieri (DPS)

Sunday, November 2, 2014

The New Bridge

New footbridge, Fortezza Vecchia, Livorno
The new footbridge is ready, but I doubt that we will be able to cross it normally any soon: what is the utility of it if the Fortezza Vecchia is always closed or it is open by appointment only?
New footbridge, Fortezza Vecchia, Livorno
Even the boat owners have been vocal in their opposition at this project, because a working bridge would be a gate of sorts between the canals where hey keep their boats and the sea.

See also: Assembling the Bridge - Waiting for the Bridge - Fortezza Vecchia - Piazza dei Grani - Scalo Regio - Porta del Duca
Search labels: Fortezza Vecchia