Sunday, April 15, 2012

Fonte Guglia?

Obelisk, piazza Mazzini, LivornoIt is not clear if this truncated stele is part of what was once called “Fonte Guglia” (Spire Fountain), whose collocation was however elsewhere, at the corner of “Via delle Spianate” (now “Corso Mazzini”) with “Borgo dei Cappuccini”. The obelisk has already lost its top some time ago due to stability problems.Livorno, view from the top of the lighthouse, by Alfred GuesdonIn a view of Livorno from L'Italie à vol d'Oiseau (A bird's eye view of Italy) by Alfred Guesdon (circa 1850) you can easily spot the pristine obelisk at the right end of the green area. It was probably built in the 1830s with parts from other steles, formerly used to delimitate the area around the old city walls where building was not allowed.Old postcard of piazza Mazzini, 1912, LivornoA postcard showing “Piazza Mazzini” in 1911, now full of young trees, with the obelisk visible on the right.
(Postcard digitized from the collection of Antonio Cantelli)
See also: The Two Towers
Search labels: postcard

11 comments:

Luis Gomez said...

Great post VP. Thank you.

Jack said...

Very interesting, VP. I always enjoy your historical posts about Livorno.

Michelle said...

Interesting piece of history.

Randy said...

That is wonderful that it is still standing.

Dina said...

Too bad it lost the top part. But now you have the old pictures in which it still lives on.
Interesting, the purpose of these obelisks.

Gunn said...

Interesting posting, and the old card must cost quite a lot today. The italian stamps have always been nice.
As a child I collected stamps.

Cezar and Léia said...

This fountain is very beautiful and it has lots of history.The vintage postcard is wonderful.
Léia

cieldequimper said...

Yes, there was a time when they were very fashionable, obviously not so anymore...

Unknown said...

How very interesting. Great post, VP.

joo said...

Interesting. I love the old views.

EG CameraGirl said...

How sad that the obelisk has lost its top.