Monday, September 28, 2009

The Last Navicello

Cargo port, LivornoA view from the top of the “Mastio di Matilde” of the “Fortezza Vecchia”. We usually don't see this part of the port because this is where cargo vessels load and unload, and access is restricted. Just in front of the passenger terminal of the Moby Lines you can see a bulky black thing on a pedestal: it is a “navicello”.navicellonavicelloThe barge was salvaged few years ago in a canal of the “Venezia” quarter, restored and transformed in a monument dedicated to everyone involved in the construction of the “navicelli”, a thriving trade in Livorno at the time.

See also: Canale dei Navicelli - Dogana d'acqua

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31 comments:

  1. stromsjoSeptember 28, 2009 at 12:04 AM

    I never figured out how anything could remain reasonably intact over long time periods in the mud at the bottom of canals.

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  2. VPSeptember 28, 2009 at 12:18 AM

    @ Per - I forgot to say that some of these boats where still around when I was a kid, abandoned here and there along the canals.
    This one was restored in the early 90's and probably salvaged few years earlier, so it could have been no more than two decades in the water...

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  3. UnknownSeptember 28, 2009 at 1:03 AM

    This is so unusual!

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  4. LowellSeptember 28, 2009 at 1:46 AM

    Extremely interesting. When the photo is enlarged, you can see clearly how tightly controlled this area is...

    Probably due to possible terrorism?

    Beautiful old ship and a nice memorial!

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  5. brattcatSeptember 28, 2009 at 2:18 AM

    Such an interesting post.

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  6. Debbie Courson SmithSeptember 28, 2009 at 3:32 AM

    Thanks for the bit of history.

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  7. SunnySeptember 28, 2009 at 6:02 AM

    I find the barge fascinating. It's a very interesting monument.

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  8. gogouciSeptember 28, 2009 at 6:05 AM

    Interesting monument. Amazing it has remained in such good condition after having been under water for a time.

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  9. amatamari©September 28, 2009 at 7:15 AM

    Really impressive!!!

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  10. KcalpeshSeptember 28, 2009 at 7:28 AM

    Interesting pictures!

    - Pixellicious Photos

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  11. cieldequimperSeptember 28, 2009 at 8:35 AM

    Just like the one I saw when I was researching your previous post! I like the general view.

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  12. JamesSeptember 28, 2009 at 8:47 AM

    Very intersting monument. I'm trying to figure out how big it is, but I can't tell how high the fence is.

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  13. jooSeptember 28, 2009 at 8:51 AM

    This barge is amazing - I could almost smell the old imprgnated wood!

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  14. Unseen RajasthanSeptember 28, 2009 at 9:20 AM

    Beautiful and Nice shots !!Unseen Rajasthan

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  15. VPSeptember 28, 2009 at 9:48 AM

    @ James - Sorry, in three different posts I failed to give this important information: a “navicello” has a lenght of around 18 meters and is about 4 meters wide.

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  16. HildaSeptember 28, 2009 at 2:27 PM

    That's a fascinating boat. It looks like a canoe but huge!

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  17. B SQUAREDSeptember 28, 2009 at 2:32 PM

    This must be the "newest" old thing in Livorno. Seems like everything else is centuries old.

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  18. Benikos placeSeptember 28, 2009 at 3:47 PM

    I know these boats also from my country..very nice story, regards

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  19. HalcyonSeptember 28, 2009 at 5:06 PM

    Cool! I'm glad they decided to restore and keep this one. It's good to remember one's roots.

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  20. LayrayskiSeptember 28, 2009 at 5:42 PM

    i thought it was a noah's ark recreation. cool photo. is it really black in its original form?

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  21. IlseSeptember 28, 2009 at 6:57 PM

    I love seeing these old ships. I saw the Wasa ship in Stockholm a few times.

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  22. tapirgalSeptember 28, 2009 at 8:09 PM

    I really enjoyed the view over your harbor. Now I can picture it better than I could when looking at the map. I think it's great that they made a monument of this boat. It looks nice on the pedestal with pictures (?) around the base.

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  23. VPSeptember 28, 2009 at 8:42 PM

    @ Benikos place - I'd be curious to know how they call these barges...
    @ Layrayski - They were black, caulked with tar, I think.
    @ Asta - From the tower of the fortress we have quite a good view, but you have to get up there on foot!

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  24. VPSeptember 28, 2009 at 8:45 PM

    @ tapirgal - The first dock is the Bacino Firenze (on Google or MarineTraffic). The second is the Alto Fondale, you can spot the yellow cranes on the satellite view. The fourth with the tanker is the Darsena Petroli. The third doesn't exist on maps and is the new Molo Italia built between the other two.
    I sneaked inside to get the pictures of the navicello, but there was too much sun to photograph the images around the pedestal. I'll try again, but they don't like strangers taking photos inside.

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  25. Clueless in BostonSeptember 28, 2009 at 10:48 PM

    I think it's pretty funny looking. It brings to mind the tricorn hats of yore.

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  26. AndreeaSeptember 29, 2009 at 8:10 AM

    Nothing left for me to say but "Looks impressive".

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  27. TashSeptember 29, 2009 at 8:26 AM

    How marvelous! I just adore the rugged look they conserved.
    If there is an image of Noah's ark that I have it's hull would look like this.

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  28. EllieSeptember 29, 2009 at 7:11 PM

    Noe this look like a perfect place to put some love signs :)
    Such a unique view - this boat over the building!

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  29. CopenhagenSeptember 29, 2009 at 9:42 PM

    Wow...that boat is huge! I think it's a create way to display an old object.

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  30. Mary Stebbins TaittSeptember 29, 2009 at 10:41 PM

    WOW! I love that last shot!! nice POV!

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  31. BaruchOctober 1, 2009 at 9:24 AM

    Interesting point of view of the "monument"

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