“Piazza Attias” takes its name from a 17th Century “Villa Attias” named after Jasach Attias, a wealthy merchant from one of the most renowned Jewish families in Livorno. After changing several owners the villa was demolished in 1968 to make room for a square surrounded by three modern buildings.
The square, not more than a parking space, become the heart of the young Livorno in the 70's and early 80's. Everybody was there or passed by, from the late afternoon to the early evening. In the following years the zone was pedestrianized with the construction of an underground parking, losing a bit of its raw charm with the new generations.
The street on the right of this image is the axis which crosses Livorno from north to south, beginning in “Piazza Grande”, crossing “Piazza Cavour” and then rejoining the “Aurelia”, the modern road which follows the ancient Roman route.
As kindly requested by brattcat, I have just found an image of the old villa at the page “Piazza Attias” of the Italian version of Wikipedia.See also: The Big Red A - The New Attias - The Red Tower - Lungomare di Antignano - Steamhip in Port - Six Months
That's pretty interesting. It's too bad the third building didn't look as unusual as the first two - it would be quite a remarkable square! It looks nice, anyway.
ReplyDeleteSea lions. There are none on the dock with the salmon weather vane, but yesterday I spent some time looking and taking photos at the dock where they live. I'll post a photo tomorrow. I counted approximately 100 of them, and there's of course a story, because the fishermen hate them, and the tourists love them. If you're a local, I guess you could go either way. I love them!
Thanks for all the shipping info. I was offline all day due to a cut cable on a construction project. I'll check out your pilot boats soon. It makes sense - if they go off the radio they disappear from the chart.
ReplyDeleteI like the building in the first photo.
ReplyDeleteinteresting, and nice designe.
The first building looks really interesting. The square still seems like a cool place too.
ReplyDeleteAbout "louvered windows" there are plenty around here due to the large quantity of houses that are over 200 yrs old. Newtown is 325 yrs old. However It is rare in every other place that I've lived.
Fascinating photos! So, that first building got knocked down. Hmm. I like it better than the others...
ReplyDeleteWeird, but friendly weird.
That building /the first one/ is like nothing I've seen before - looks like a sailing ship! Very interesting!
ReplyDeleteThe building in the first photo is rather unusual. The base looks like a train and the top looks like it might topple over.
ReplyDeleteThe first building really is wild. It is a triangle type isn't it? So it looks more unstable than it really is.
ReplyDeleteInteresting about the loosing appeal as a gathering place. Do you think it's the underground parking lot or that young people do not gather as much any more & chat/play games/interact virtually?
Wouldn't it be nice if larger parts of a modern city were pedestrianized...
ReplyDeleteI think I found where your pilot boats dock, but there's not much happening on the map right now, and of course I couldn't see those boats anyway. I'll have to visit Livorno ;)
ReplyDeletewow this first building is so different and modern!
ReplyDeleteYou took great shots and I liked a lot of this modern face of the city!
Léia
Curious!
ReplyDeleteThat building must be shaking all the time!
No?!
The first building I think is just unique and perhaps more interesting than the other two....
ReplyDeleteAnyway, is it mainly office buildings or are they flats??
What is the population of the city?
I love the pink building - hope it's apartments. Unfortunately it makes sense to demolish old villas & build apartments - there's more of us and we all need to live somewhere.
ReplyDelete@ Tash - You got it right, it's a very stable triangular building.
ReplyDeleteThe place now is quite scary at night, and it's not an age thing: my son feels the same way. A couple of years ago a mob assaulted a police car here, badly beating the officers.
@ Gunn White - Livorno has 160.000 inhabitants.
Most of these building are for office use, but at the higher floors there are some beautiful flats.
Is there a photograph of the original villa?
ReplyDeleteI must say, the old building has a lot more charm. But it's good that your city makes space for pedestrians.
ReplyDeleteI really like the old photo.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be that I'm a traditionalist:). The old villa was the best!
ReplyDeleteLike for me, the building in the first photo is terrible.
Very interesting story about the history of this place!
Regards,
m_m
The 1st building is incredible!
ReplyDeleteWhat JM said!
ReplyDeleteThe “Piazza Attias” is very interesting looking
ReplyDeleteThe architecture of the first two buildings are so funky! But I definitely like the old villa much, much better.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen a COIN store in a long time!
ReplyDeleteWhat's a COIN store?
ReplyDelete@ Per - A chain of department stores: Coin SpA.
ReplyDelete