Thursday, October 29, 2009

Consulates

Not as many as in the past, but we can still spot some picturesque plaques and the occasional flag of a consulate on city buildings.
The Uruguayan consulate in “Via De Larderel”
The The Honorary Consulate of Greece in “Piazza Attias”
The Swedish consulate in “Via Cogorano”

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37 comments:

  1. CopenhagenOctober 29, 2009 at 12:41 AM

    Any consulate from Canada? ;)

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  2. VPOctober 29, 2009 at 1:21 AM

    @ White Oleander - No, but we have a Danish one!

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  3. tapirgalOctober 29, 2009 at 1:54 AM

    What great finds. You won't be seeing any of these from your sister city.

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  4. LowellOctober 29, 2009 at 2:07 AM

    These are very interesting...again, my ignorance is showing, but why would Livorno have so many consulates?

    We don't have any in Ocala! ;-)

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  5. JulieOctober 29, 2009 at 2:09 AM

    I could probably rustle up a few of these flags and crests in an around where I am staying for the next couple of weeks. This part of Sydney is the consulate area of Woollahra and Bellvue Hill.

    I like to see all the insignia from around the world. Shows a lot of history and a lot of colour.

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  6. Julie ScottsdaleDailyPhoto.comOctober 29, 2009 at 3:18 AM

    great first photo. and i liked your anchor photos

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  7. AnonymousOctober 29, 2009 at 3:59 AM

    Are these consulates in Livorno? The crests are attractive but why not fly flags that wave in the wind and attract attention? ;-)

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  8. Leif HagenOctober 29, 2009 at 3:59 AM

    I'm surprised to see consulates in Livorno?
    Heja Sverige - glad to see the Swedish one!
    Halsningar fran Hagen

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  9. TashOctober 29, 2009 at 6:12 AM

    Colorful. That's actually more than I would of expected. Must be all the shipping and cruise traffic that calls for them.

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  10. Unseen India ToursOctober 29, 2009 at 9:08 AM

    Beautiful and lovely shots !! Nice post !!

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  11. Mathieu GrenetOctober 29, 2009 at 10:46 AM

    @ Jacob : I think Livorno has many consulates due to its commercial prominence in the 17th-18th centuries. At this time, each consulate was in charge of representing/defending the interest of one "trading nation" (Greeks, Swedes, French, etc.). Therefore, there was no need to have one in the capital (i.e., Florence), but rather in the blossoming port-city.

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  12. brattcatOctober 29, 2009 at 12:15 PM

    So interesting that only the Swedish consulate is unshuttered. Do you suppose there is some symbolism there?

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  13. nobuOctober 29, 2009 at 1:21 PM

    I love this series!
    Nice idea.

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  14. jooOctober 29, 2009 at 1:49 PM

    I like The Uruguayan consulate the most:)
    Is there The Polish consulate inLivorno?

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  15. HildaOctober 29, 2009 at 1:54 PM

    Very discreet. I like that.

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  16. B SQUAREDOctober 29, 2009 at 2:29 PM

    Some is better than none.

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  17. Cezar and LéiaOctober 29, 2009 at 2:31 PM

    It's cool, and I also love flags!
    And about Brazilian consulate?
    Léia :)

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  18. LowellOctober 29, 2009 at 3:15 PM

    @ Mathieu - Merci for the explanation. That is rather what I had thought, but was unsure and probably couldn't have put it into words that made sense. Appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts with me (and others).

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  19. HalcyonOctober 29, 2009 at 3:30 PM

    If the US had a consulate there, I'm sure they'd put up a much bigger flag. ;-)

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  20. Three Rivers, MichiganOctober 29, 2009 at 3:35 PM

    A nice collection of consulates, and an enjoyable series of photos!

    It is interesting that there would be a Uruguayan consulate - part of Livorno's history as a great port of trade, I'm sure.

    http://threeriversdailyphoto.blogspot.com

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  21. SarettaOctober 29, 2009 at 3:54 PM

    What an international city Livorno is! I had no idea!

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  22. GunnOctober 29, 2009 at 4:24 PM

    I will look to see if I find similar beautiful signs...
    Thanks for sharing.
    (To be honest, I had not heard about Livorno until I started following your blog.... )

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  23. FrankOctober 29, 2009 at 4:44 PM

    I always like the consulates with brass plagues at the doorways. Highly polished and deeply etched. Great series.

    You will have to speak to the various countries about awarding a consulate to Ocala, Florida USA. They are growing restless. (I know just the person for a Counsel General post.)

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  24. JamesOctober 29, 2009 at 4:55 PM

    These are great. It's interesting to see the symbols on the plaques.

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  25. Stefan JanssonOctober 29, 2009 at 5:13 PM

    The Vikings are everywhere!

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  26. LowellOctober 29, 2009 at 5:16 PM

    @ Frank - Thank you so much, Frank. I'm glad that there is at least one person in the world who recognizes the importance of Ocala...

    I mean, we do have a plethora of horse manure!

    If this works you, would you be interested in the Counsul General's post? You could ride about on your pinto pony...

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  27. FrankOctober 29, 2009 at 5:26 PM

    @ Jacob - I would certainly be interested in the Ocala consulate post but ONLY if Vogon Poet can arrange for my post to BE in Livorno. I promise to make the Pinto pony behave and perhaps they would consider carving a large statue of me on the pony for the large town square. (Jacob - Do I need my really tall boots to just visit Ocala?)

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  28. AndreeaOctober 29, 2009 at 7:24 PM

    I was also surprised to see consulates in Livorno but then I read Mathieu's explanation. I guess it makes sense. Nice series.

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  29. VPOctober 29, 2009 at 8:16 PM

    @ Mathieu - Thank you for the perfect explanation.
    @ brattcat - If I remember well I took the pictures of the shuttered consulates during my Sunday afternoon walks and the Swedish one during a weekday.
    @ joo & Léia - Sorry, no Polish or Brazilian consulates but we have: Malta, Portugal, India and Denmark...

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  30. stromsjoOctober 29, 2009 at 8:18 PM

    Embassies and consulates are being closed these days due to budget constraints. Maybe the powers at the ministry for foreign affairs have forgotten about this consulate? ;)

    Thanks for sharing!

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  31. VPOctober 29, 2009 at 8:40 PM

    @ Halcyon - No American consulate, but in case of need you can try here...

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  32. VPOctober 29, 2009 at 8:41 PM

    @ Asta - If I remember well the Greek Honorary Consul is a renowned dentist, so be careful...

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  33. UnknownOctober 29, 2009 at 9:05 PM

    What a great idea! This would never cross my mind... :-)

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  34. cieldequimperOctober 29, 2009 at 9:06 PM

    Isn't it great to see allsorts of different nationalities like that? Ports have that advantage...

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  35. EllieOctober 30, 2009 at 9:44 PM

    Right! Foreigners still need those. It is amazing though with the EU how many borders fell. When I was growing up in Bulgaria it was something unbelievable to travel to Europe freely. The world has changed so much in a lifetime. Somehow I ended up in the USA. I passed near Greek Embassy every day when I was in college in Sofia.

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  36. Mary Stebbins TaittOctober 30, 2009 at 9:47 PM

    Important and interesting--would be fun to know a little more. (I have a wild imagination and I am sure what really goes on is probably very pedestrian.)

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  37. TinsieNovember 12, 2009 at 12:26 PM

    Hehe we're there too!

    Only just saw this post, and I couldn't not comment :-)

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