Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Love Padlocks

Love padlocks, LivornoLocal sweethearts chain their love padlocks around a lamp post on the “lungomare”, a tradition revived a few years ago by the movie “Ho voglia di te” (I Want You).
In the movie, which is set in Rome, the two lovers use a lamp post on the Ponte Milvio (Wikipedia image).
In time they got so many imitators that at least a couple of lamp posts crumbled under the weight of chains and padlocks.

See also: “In Rome, a New Ritual on an Old Bridge” (The New York Times) - Rust Never Sleeps

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25 comments:

  1. CopenhagenMay 6, 2009 at 7:22 AM

    I think it's quite sweet. All movies set in Italy are romantic.

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  2. cieldequimperMay 6, 2009 at 8:16 AM

    Rusty romance!

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  3. jooMay 6, 2009 at 8:45 AM

    It's a nice custom, I saw somthing similar in Riga, but it wasn't lamp they use but cast-iron balustrade of the little bridge.

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  4. TashMay 6, 2009 at 9:08 AM

    Fascinating, I've never heard of "locking up love" :) - makes a lot of sense in a time where marking trees and writing on walls is not appropriate. I like the Comune di Livorno imprint - well done.

    In your NYT link I found this photo of locks for sale< - fun photo of a business-minded spirit.

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  5. TashMay 6, 2009 at 9:12 AM

    try one more time:Locks for sale

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  6. stromsjoMay 6, 2009 at 10:13 AM

    It's fascinating when a contemporary phenomenon such as a movie can reignite an old tradition.

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  7. FioMay 6, 2009 at 10:25 AM

    :-)

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  8. VPMay 6, 2009 at 11:19 AM

    @ Ciel - Salt-laden sea air takes its toll...
    @ Tash - A couple of years ago, in Rome, less honest souls harvested locks and chains selling them as scrap iron. Carabinieri recovered everything.

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  9. BaruchMay 6, 2009 at 11:29 AM

    How romantic is that?!

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  10. LaurentMay 6, 2009 at 11:29 AM

    I had heard of this padlocks "love" but never seen it actually. Thanks for showing it on a nicely framed picture

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  11. B SQUAREDMay 6, 2009 at 2:26 PM

    Such a great tradition. Do they keep an extra key, just in case?

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  12. nobuMay 6, 2009 at 2:53 PM

    Interesting post.

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  13. HildaMay 6, 2009 at 2:54 PM

    Interesting. I've never heard of this custom before. I hope the sweethearts don't destroy too many lamp posts!

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  14. LowellMay 6, 2009 at 4:23 PM

    Ciel's comment is so funny!

    But this is just plain funny for sure. I'd never heard of the tradition.

    What a great picture!

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  15. NancyMay 6, 2009 at 4:49 PM

    Amazing! This is a great photo - I must research this. Are there many of these around town?

    -Nancy

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  16. hennyMay 6, 2009 at 6:17 PM

    Hahaha at B Squared :).
    I saw about Locks of Love, too, last year in Osaka. You can buy the lock for less than 1000Yen, I guess. Quite cheap for locking love. They were kept on the top floor of Sky Building.
    Hi, VP, very different photo with those you showed us before.

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  17. SarettaMay 6, 2009 at 6:45 PM

    I've seen this on the bridges in Merano.

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  18. crocrodylMay 6, 2009 at 9:44 PM

    Very romantic:) I see something similar in Riga. But I am wondering why padlocks?

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  19. AyieMay 6, 2009 at 10:29 PM

    too much padlocks!

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  20. slimMay 7, 2009 at 4:30 AM

    Interesting story and such a variety of locks as there is people who lock them. I hope they rust off before the beautiful lamppost falls over.

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  21. UnknownMay 7, 2009 at 5:16 AM

    A very nice tradition, but it seems a bit harsh on the lamppost :-)

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  22. Stefan JanssonMay 7, 2009 at 9:35 AM

    Cool tradition. I will have to check out that movie.

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  23. DagrunMay 7, 2009 at 10:53 AM

    Oh, cool! Love your pictures (in general I mean ;)

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  24. FrankMay 7, 2009 at 5:13 PM

    I love your padlocks photo. There is a sculpture/artist's installation here in Tampa, Flroida that is covered in individual keys. I'll have to look closer at it. Perhaps I've found all the keys to your locks.

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  25. HalcyonNovember 9, 2009 at 3:05 PM

    I have never heard of this tradition. Funny!

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