“Villa Fabbricotti”, originally a Medicean villa, was purchased by Bernardo Fabbricotti in 1881. It was enlarged and restructured by the architect Vincenzo Micheli, who built a beautiful park in the surrounding 27 hectares (67 acres) of land.
From this Bing Maps aerial view we can see the old tree lined avenues leading to the park, not long time ago still countryside just outside the city walls. In 1936 the villa was sold to the municipality of Livorno and, during the last war, housed first the German and then the Allied Headquarters.
Now the villa hosts the “Biblioteca Labronica” (Civic Library) and the park, much reduced in size now, is open to the public. As “Villa Fabbricotti” we usually mean the park itself, which is my favorite in town for several reasons, most of them personal. I played there as a kid, I studied in the library and flirted in the park as a student. In time, I took my own kid there to play.
Every kid entering the park for the first time was fascinated by the charming keeper's house, amidst the green as in a fairy tale.
This artificial grotto was another joy for the kids, because you can safely climb on top or hide inside. Not far from here there is now the infamous
dangerous playground we saw few days ago.
During summer months there is an open-air cinema inside the park, just in front of the library. Unfortunately chairs and screen stay there for the rest of the year, even during winter.
Near the “Piazza Matteotti” entrance there is a thriving “centro anziani” (senior citizen club), so another leg of my trip through the ages in “Villa Fabbricotti” could be already set.
“Villa Fabbricotti”, originally a Medicean villa, was purchased by Bernardo Fabbricotti in 1881. It was enlarged and restructured by the architect Vincenzo Micheli, who built a beautiful park in the surrounding 27 hectares (67 acres) of land.
From this Bing Maps aerial view we can see the old tree lined avenues leading to the park, not long time ago still countryside just outside the city walls. In 1936 the villa was sold to the municipality of Livorno and, during the last war, housed first the German and then the Allied Headquarters.
Now the villa hosts the “Biblioteca Labronica” (Civic Library) and the park, much reduced in size now, is open to the public. As “Villa Fabbricotti” we usually mean the park itself, which is my favorite in town for several reasons, most of them personal. I played there as a kid, I studied in the library and flirted in the park as a student. In time, I took my own kid there to play.
Every kid entering the park for the first time was fascinated by the charming keeper's house, amidst the green as in a fairy tale.
This artificial grotto was another joy for the kids, because you can safely climb on top or hide inside. Not far from here there is now the infamous dangerous playground we saw few days ago.
During summer months there is an open-air cinema inside the park, just in front of the library. Unfortunately chairs and screen stay there for the rest of the year, even during winter.
Near the “Piazza Matteotti” entrance there is a thriving “centro anziani” (senior citizen club), so another leg of my trip through the ages in “Villa Fabbricotti” could be already set.
20 comments:
Sounds like a generational park in the most positive sense. It's wonderful to find a favourite spot, be able to return to it throughout life and - best of all - having the opportunity to introduce a new generation to this very place.
I see the palm trees that I also found by the church in Livorno. What a delightful park with a lot of history. It's wonderful to have that in your life. Thanks for all the great photos!
Lovely park, beautiful architecture. So interesting.
Sunny :)
Wonderful photographic series: the boulevard and the keeper's house are wonderful!
Thanks!
p.s.
Quasi quasi mi traferisco a Livorno...
:-)
It is a beautiful spot, VP. And this is a bit different from your usual foto fare.
I like it a lot, and I can certainly see its attraction for a variety of ages...
Such is life that now the senior's club looks pretty good to me...
You drew us into the enchantment of this park with the first photo of the tree-lined path. Thank you for sharing your history with this park with us. I could imagine a little VP going there and playing in the hiding places and taking his own VP jr. to play there, too.
Fabulous first picture of the 'villa' and pathway. Great colors.
Wonderful place!
I think the park is beautiful every season.
What a treasure! A very wonderful place.
Looks and sounds like a fabulous place for the entire family. You'll find me in the library. Which I think is gorgeous, by the way.
Sorry, VP. Ayala Land never answered my friends questions on my behalf. I guess I will never know who their designers and architects are :(
Adorable and charming houses!This place is really amazing. I have never gone to the open air cinema, but I thing it is funny and I'd love to try someday.First of all I need to search about it here because I'm not sure if there is something like that!
The first picture is magnificent!
Léia
I uuderstand pretty well why it's your favourite park, I'm sure I would love it as well.
The tree lined road is just beautiful and as every kid I'm fascinated by the kepper's house:)
Great place indeed!
Have a nice week!
The villa is gorgeous and so is the tree lined avenue shot! It must be a wonderful park!
I love that tree-lined walkway. So beautiful!
It's also nice they have activities for all ages to enjoy. It's good when a community appreciates all of its people.
Oh that alley is wonderful. The whole parc is gorgeous. No wonder you love it, especially if you have so many memories there!
Now there's a tricky one. We love a place where we have many memories. But we wouldn't have had all those memories unless we had liked the place from the outset. So it's either the hen, the egg or the entire park administration and I rest my case! :D
Wow! It is a beautiful alley! You are an expert - you can work as a guide - showing people how to fully enjoy the park. I bet my kids will be ready to climb that thing. Thank you for that wonderful walk in the park!
Looks like a great park. Trees make such a huge difference to a neighbourhood
Looks like a place I might enjoy visiting. I love open air cinemas :-)
This place is gorgeous VP. Thanks.
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