Friday, August 28, 2009

Black Eagle

Palazzo dell'Aquila Nera, Black Eagle Palace, LivornoThe “Palazzo dell'Aquila Nera” (Black Eagle Palace) is one of the best preserved building in the last stretch of the “Fosso Reale”, just before the harbour.Palazzo dell'Aquila Nera, Black Eagle Palace, LivornoThe whole first floor of this “palazzo”, built in 1856, was occupied by the Grand Hotel Royal de l'Aigle Noir, a renowned luxury venue at the time. In the rest of the building, divided into apartments, lived families of wealthy merchants.Palazzo dell'Aquila Nera, Black Eagle Palace, 28th May 1943 bomb, air raid, LivornoDuring the first Allied bombing of Livorno, on 28th May 1943, a bomb struck directly an air-raid shelter under the building killing an unprecised number of civilians.Plaque remembering the victims of the 28th May 1943 bomb, Fosso Reale, LivornoA plaque on the walled-up entrance facing the “Fosso Reale” was placed in 2004 to remember the event.Ruins of the Palazzo dell'Aquila Nera, Black Eagle Palace, LivornoExactly a month later another raid destroyed part of the palace, which was fortunately rebuilt after the war and also completely restored few years ago.

23 comments:

stromsjo said...

I like that first shot a lot. It has got abstract qualities which make me see patterns and sort of a rhythm before I notice what we're really seeing.

Well done!

Sunny said...

What a magnificent structure. It looks very familar to me but I don't know why.
Sunny :)

Stefan Jansson said...

That's a fantastic yellow color. Just like Per I really like the first photo.

James said...

That building is really nice. I like it a lot. It's a terrible shame about the people that were killed.

Lowell said...

I am sorry to hear about the civilians killed. A terrible tragedy no matter the circumstances.

The building I like very much. It has real character. Like much of Livorno!

Nori Katayama said...

Your photos toch me off to historical thinking.
History of the differences between western and Japanese...

I would like talk about this if I could meet you in the future.

Nori Katayama said...

×toch→touch

sorry!

Ellie said...

Pretty yellow cube - or whatever is the right way to call this stereo-metrical shape!

Leif Hagen said...

The first picture is more artsy-fartsy ( a compliment). I love the angles, shadows and amazing details! So, how many windows, balconies, doors and shutters are there??!

Tash said...

Eye-catching 1st photo. Eye catching building - 2nd photo. Very sad about the loss of lives in the shelter.

Anonymous said...

Terrible story, but beautiful building. I love shutters on windows!

Jilly said...

How absolutely beautiful and so well photographed too. Such a tragic history. I love that last photograph showing the beautiful and original wall.

brattcat said...

I'm in agreement with the others. That first photo is superb. What a place to live, VP.

Gunn said...

The best photo, is number one.....
I have always been impressed about the architecture and the italian design and style!

Soon I will perhaps see one or two of several Italian films in Stavanger...


http://www.italiakultur.blogspot.com

Have a nice weekend.

Halcyon said...

I like the point of view on your first photo and then to see the entire building in the second. It is wonderfully preserved and thank goodness for that!

Happy Friday!!

Wolynski said...

Love the first photo, too. So is this a hotel still? Livorno is looking more and more appetizing.

tapirgal said...

Once again, you have three different-looking photos, each with its style and charm. This is the type of building I think of when I think of Italy! (Well, there are others, but this is so typical in my mind.)

cieldequimper said...

Simply classical. What is it nowadays?

Baruch said...

Very nice building. Sad about the people that died. Isn't a bomb shelter suppose to protect you?

amatamari© said...

I tuoi post sono sempre più generosamente ricchi di dettagli e belli!
Grazie
:-)

VP said...

@ Gunn White - Be careful, most Italian films now are either too silly or too boring!
@ ciel - Offices and apartments, I guess.
@ baruch - Shelters usually protect by indirect hits. This, unfortunately, was a direct one.

Hilda said...

It is a beautiful building and I am glad they were able to restore it. But what a tragic history!

Unknown said...

Very powerful building! And great repetition shot!