The “Mercatino Americano” (american market) changes location. It has been in “Piazza XX Settembre” for almost sixty years and today open its new stalls inside the port area. These absolutely fresh photos show that, the day first of the opening, works are still in progress.
The market thrived soon after the last war with the opening of Camp Darby, the large American base in Tombolo, between Livorno and Pisa. In the first years much stuff arrived straightly from the base, in a way or the other, or from the port, usually in the other way. Some contraband was sold here, along with counterfeit tapes.
In the 70's people came from all over Italy to buy stuff there, the most frequent question a Livornese was asked by a tourist was: where is the “Mercatino Americano”? Gradually the market specialized in army surplus, camping gear and clothes, with the late addition of electronics and cell phones.
Its glory days were way over and many stalls were already closed, the rest are reopening today afternoon in this new area.See also: Forlorn Gran Duke - Nuovo Mercatino Americano
12 comments:
Last time I went to an Army supplies store was at least 10 years ago...
I can never understand why people want to wear army surplus ! Not exactly the height of fashion - perhaps I'm too old to understand !!
Wish we had an equivalent of Italian Stores in one place here. I still have a red bowl and salt/pepper shakers bought in Trieste 24 yrs ago - goods are just more stylish there. I like the shot looking down at all the doors.
I like the photos - place looks neat, and what an amazing blue sky matching with blue stalls!
Not much to buy for me there but it's interesting:)
Have a nice weekend!
Vvvvvery interesting post!
Hello dear friend
We always like to visit these kind of markets!This one is sooo cool! Great and informative post, many thanks!
Léia and Cezar
Bonjour Luxembourg
Now that is a fascinating story. When I was in the US Navy, I knew a lot of stuff disappeared from the supply room and that was on a US base...
This store looks identical to our Army/Navy War Surplus stores which have made the same accommodation to the times, adding "electronics and cell phones."
Not so many of them anymore though.
Hope this one does well.
And have a great weekend!
I really like that first photo (and the last). You have a unity of color and purpose here that makes it so interesting to study.
I could use a pair of boots. Now I know where to buy them. :-)
Aargh, I want to go there! I've been looking for camouflage pants for ages!
We used to have several like these when I was younger. But they're gone now, ever since the Philippines didn't renew the U.S. bases agreement.
That's an interesting story in pictures. I can remember when everyone wanted to by military surplus goods. It was the hip clothing of the day.
Thanks for telling us about the history of this market. Not sure what I would by there, a military bike perhaps!
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