Friday, October 30, 2015

Naturalia 2015

Naturalia, Cruise Terminal, Livorno
A few images from the fifth edition of “Naturalia”, an expo about “100% natural ideas”. Here you can see an assortment of hand made hard bar soaps, where the star is Aleppo soap.
Naturalia, Cruise Terminal, Livorno
Naturalia, Cruise Terminal, Livorno
White sage, “used by Native Americans for purification”, and raw cinnamon sticks.

External links: Aleppo soap (Wikipedia)
See also: Naturalia - Himalayan Salt Lamps - Teas and Infusions - Made of Cork

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Road Barrier

Road barrier, Via della Cinta Esterna, Livorno
I saw this road barrier in Via della Cinta Esterna: I would say that its aspect is at least ambiguous...

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

MS Berlin

Cruise ship Berlin, IMO 7904889, port of Livorno
Last Wednesday the cruise ship “Berlin” disembarked three hundred cyclists, who then went for a tour to Pisa.
Cruise ship Berlin, IMO 7904889, port of Livorno
Cruise ship Berlin, IMO 7904889, port of Livorno
I missed this part, but I was able to watch the quite laborious reloading of the bicycles on the ship.

External links: FTI Cruises (Official site)
Search labels: cruise ship

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Birds and Bugs

Harborea 2015, Villa Mimbelli, Livorno
A few more garden animals, still at “Harborea”: a common kingfisher has already caught a fish.
Harborea 2015, Villa Mimbelli, Livorno
Harborea 2015, Villa Mimbelli, Livorno
A couple of ladybugs (or ladybirds) and a butterfly

Harborea 2015 - The Roses of Florence - Il Buco nel Legno - Garden Animals - Bee Houses

See also: Harborea - The Flowers of Harborea - The Animals of Harborea

Monday, October 26, 2015

Lorenzo Fratellini

View of Livorno from the side of the Lighthouse by Lorenzo Fratellini, Council chamber, Town Hall, Livorno
We have already seen the busts and the reliefs of our Council chamber, today we are looking at its only painting. It is a large oil on canvas (cm 165 x 255) titled “Veduta di Livorno dalla parte del Fanale” (View of Livorno from the side of the Lighthouse) dated in the first half of the 18th century and attributed to the Florentine painter Lorenzo Fratellini.

External links: Lorenzo Fratellini (Wikipedia)
See also: Town Hall - Footbridge with a View - City Council - The Busts in the Council - The Reliefs in the Council - The Chandelier

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Piazza Magenta

Works in Piazza della Vittoria, Piazza Magenta, Livorno
It should be “Piazza della Vittoria” (Victory Square), but they keep calling this square with its old name: “Piazza Magenta”.
Lavori in Piazza della Vittoria, Piazza Magenta, Livorno
Lavori in Piazza della Vittoria, Piazza Magenta, Livorno
Some maintenance works are already started and were much needed: on the left you can see the sorry state of a path last Sunday, on the right how it was three days after.

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

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Birdman

Livorno
Usually it would be hard to call a friend someone who you have never met, but this was not the case with our fellow blogger Birdman, from Portland, Maine. Sadly I am saying ‘was’ because, as most of us already know, he passed away suddenly last Sunday. Here you can read his last post, brilliant as always. May he rest in peace, we will miss his stories and his comments.

External links: Obituary of Mark L. Norton (The Portland Press Herald)

Friday, October 23, 2015

Bee Houses

Harborea 2015, Villa Mimbelli, Livorno
We have already seen many flowers at the last edition of “Harborea”, but there was a lot of garden-related items.
Harborea 2015, Villa Mimbelli, Livorno
Harborea 2015, Villa Mimbelli, Livorno
Some of these curiosities were several types of bee houses.

Harborea 2015 - The Roses of Florence - Il Buco nel Legno - Garden Animals - Birds and Bugs

See also: Harborea - The Flowers of Harborea - The Animals of Harborea

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

HMS Ocean

Royal Navy's amphibious assault ship HMS Ocean (L12), port of Livorno
The “HMS Ocean” (L12) is an amphibious assault ship and, since last June, the Royal Navy Fleet Flagship.
Royal Navy's amphibious assault ship HMS Ocean (L12), port of Livorno
Royal Navy's amphibious assault ship HMS Ocean (L12), port of Livorno
One of the four Landing Craft Vehicle and Personnel (LCVPs) embarked, and one of the four Phalanx CIWS.
Royal Navy's amphibious assault ship HMS Ocean (L12), port of Livorno
You may have noticed this ship on her Olympic duty when, moored at Greenwich, she provided logistics support and was used as helicopter landing site during the London 2012 Olympic Games.

External links:
HMS Ocean - Amphibious assault ship - LCVP - Phalanx CIWS - Royal Navy Fleet Flagship (Wikipedia)

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Garden Animals

Harborea 2015, Villa Mimbelli, Livorno
An interesting choice of garden animals, still at “Harborea”: the squirrel is nice, but a bit scary...
Harborea 2015, Villa Mimbelli, Livorno
Harborea 2015, Villa Mimbelli, Livorno
The hares are funny, but my favorite is the tortoise.

Harborea 2015 - The Roses of Florence - Il Buco nel Legno - Bee Houses - Birds and Bugs

See also: Harborea - The Flowers of Harborea - The Animals of Harborea

Monday, October 19, 2015

The Bank in the Container

Piazza Attias, Livorno
The local branch of a bank is undergoing some works and it is ready to operate temporarily from a container of sorts placed in Piazza Attias.
Piazza Attias, Livorno
Piazza Attias, Livorno
After complaints from some shop owners the structure, now painted in white, was moved to the back of the square.

See also: Piazza Attias - The Big Red A - The New Attias - A Like Attias

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Google Maps Car

Google Maps Camera Car, Livorno
The Google Maps Camera Car was again in Livorno last Friday.
Google Maps Camera Car, Livorno
Here it is, already in action, on Scali Finocchietti.

See also: Google Maps Camera Car
External links: Google Street View (Wikipedia)

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Nine Arrows

Frecce Tricolori, Livorno Air Show 2015, Livorno
Nine “Frecce Tricolori” (Tricolor Arrows) awaiting for the soloist, during the Livorno Air Show 2015, which took place just two months ago at the Terrazza Mascagni. (Photo taken last August)

See also: Frecce Tricolori - Livorno Air Show 2015 - Terrazza Mascagni
External links: Frecce Tricolori (Wikipedia)

Friday, October 16, 2015

Il Buco nel Legno

Harborea 2015, Villa Mimbelli, Livorno
We are still posting about the last Harborea: “Il Buco nel Legno” (The Hole in the Wood) makes bird houses.
Harborea 2015, Villa Mimbelli, Livorno
Harborea 2015, Villa Mimbelli, Livorno
The shapes are unusual and the colors quite eye-catching, but not too much.

Harborea 2015 - The Roses of Florence - Garden Animals - Bee Houses - Birds and Bugs

See also: Harborea - The Flowers of Harborea - The Animals of Harborea

Thursday, October 15, 2015

New Paradise Bike

Parrot on a bike windmill, Via Roma, Livorno
A windmill toy outside a bicycle shop in Via Roma. No doubt that this is bicycle art...

Search labels: bicycle art
External links: Bicycle Art (Inspiration Green)
See also: Wind Force

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

M/S Panorama

Sail ship Panorama, IMO 8928260, port of Livorno
“Panorama” or “Pan Orama” is a 54-meter three-masted sailing ship that can accommodate up to 49 passengers in 24 cabins, with a crew of 16. (This photo was taken last August)
Sail ship Panorama, IMO 8928260, port of Livorno
Sail ship Panorama, IMO 8928260, port of Livorno
The ship, launched in 1993, was renovated in 2008 and again refurbished in 2014.

Search labels: cruise ship - sailship

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

The Roses of Florence

Harborea 2015, Villa Mimbelli, Livorno
“Le Rose di Firenze” (The Roses of Florence) is the name of a flower nursery which was present at “Harborea”.
Harborea 2015, Villa Mimbelli, Livorno
Harborea 2015, Villa Mimbelli, Livorno
They are actually from Scandicci, near Florence, but the roses are gorgeous nonetheless.

Harborea 2015 - Il Buco nel Legno - Garden Animals - Bee Houses - Birds and Bugs

See also: Harborea - The Flowers of Harborea - The Animals of Harborea

Sunday, October 11, 2015

Ligorni

Detail of a portulan chart of the Mediterranean sea with Livorno and Vada
A detail of a portolan chart of the Mediterranean Sea dated around 1500-1600. You can find Livorno (here spelled Ligorni) and slightly on the south you can see a small village called Vada, which happens to be my birthplace. The link to the original chart is on the website of the Biblioteca Nacional de España (National Library of Spain).

External links: Portolan chart - Biblioteca Nacional de España - Marcus Antonius Coccius Sabellicus (Wikipedia)
- Cartas portulanas en la Biblioteca Nacional de España (Biblioteca Nacional de España)

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Harborea 2015

Harborea 2015, Villa Mimbelli, Livorno
It is again time of “Harborea”, the an annual garden fair organized by the Garden Club Livorno at Villa Mimbelli. The theme of the fifth edition is still: “Festa delle Piante e dei Giardini d'Oltremare” (Festival of the Plants and Gardens from Overseas).
Harborea 2015, Villa Mimbelli, Livorno
Harborea 2015, Villa Mimbelli, Livorno
Harborea 2015, Villa Mimbelli, Livorno
Harborea 2015, Villa Mimbelli, Livorno
You can see, and eventually buy, an interesting assortment of plants and garden-related merchandise.
Harborea 2015, Villa Mimbelli, Livorno
Next week we will see something more of this interesting event...

The Roses of Florence - Il Buco nel Legno - Garden Animals - Bee Houses - Birds and Bugs

More photos: Harborea 2015 (Facebook album)
See also: Harborea - The Flowers of Harborea - The Animals of Harborea - Bee Houses
External links: Harborea (Official website, in Italian)