The “Antonio Benci” elementary school faces the “Fosso Reale”, opposite the “
Mercato Centrale” and just a block east from the “
Abandoned Church”. Angiolo Badaloni, the same architect of the market, designed this imposing building, inaugurated in 1893. At first, the three levels of the building hosted different schools: an elementary school for boys, a separate one for girls and a technical school.
The head of
Minerva, with her little owl, above the main entrance on the “Fosso Reale”, now seldom used. This side of the school is the one so loved by pigeons as in the post “
Sunday & Saturday”.
Nowadays the elementary school shares the building only with a kindergarten, here its colorful entrance in “Via Bernardina”. On Thursday nights the “
Società di Danza”(Dance Society) meets in the gym of the school for lessons and training. We have seen them dancing in “
Shall We Dance?” and “
Balliamo?”.
The “Antonio Benci” elementary school faces the “Fosso Reale”, opposite the “Mercato Centrale” and just a block east from the “Abandoned Church”. Angiolo Badaloni, the same architect of the market, designed this imposing building, inaugurated in 1893. At first, the three levels of the building hosted different schools: an elementary school for boys, a separate one for girls and a technical school.
The head of Minerva, with her little owl, above the main entrance on the “Fosso Reale”, now seldom used. This side of the school is the one so loved by pigeons as in the post “Sunday & Saturday”.
Nowadays the elementary school shares the building only with a kindergarten, here its colorful entrance in “Via Bernardina”. On Thursday nights the “Società di Danza”(Dance Society) meets in the gym of the school for lessons and training. We have seen them dancing in “Shall We Dance?” and “Balliamo?”.
Very nice Vogon, Love the building. Great photo of the window.
ReplyDeleteThey are all lovely but I"m thinking I"m partial to the last one. Beautiful trio!
ReplyDeleteV
It is a great looking, though massive building. It's good it is being put to such good use. It must have been quite intimidating to small children going to school there.
ReplyDeleteWhat an incredible building! We have a few older school buildings that look similar but none of this size and magnificence.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't imagine that it contained only an elementary school. And I am glad to hear that it is being put to use and not scheduled for demolition... but then you don't demolish too much over there ... like we do here.
Oh, what is a "maternal" school - does it teach young women how to be good mothers?
Another Beautiful Series of Fantastic shots !! Loved the BUilding!!Unseen Rajasthan
ReplyDeleteThese 3 photographs are all very nice and interesting, and they stand well together. The last one is my favorite...... Who and what is inside???
ReplyDeleteHave a nice weekend! :-)
They are keen on different coloured curtains for every window. Nice series.
ReplyDeleteImposing alright. But softened by the lovely details and colorful curtains. Glad you found a place to take a photo of the whole thing — always a problem with huge buildings in a crowded city.
ReplyDelete@ Jacob - Sorry, one of my many slips: I mean kindergarten...
ReplyDeleteThe massive building itself is quite impressive, but your photos give us a great view of past and present.
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Elementary scholl building?
ReplyDeleteSuprised!
Any way, wonderful building.
How did you get up high enough for the first photo?
ReplyDeleteThis school definitely does not look like any we have around here. But I like it!
@ Halcyon - This picture is taken from the gangway around the skylight of the Mercato Centrale.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Vogon Poet, your first picture is really outstanding!Ahh that Mercato Centrale, so cool,I remember your posts about!
ReplyDeleteThis beautiful building is huge and I think those curtains are a fabulous detail!
Léia
@ VP - Maybe not so much of a slip...if one starts fooling around one can find oneself in a "maternal" way which in a few years leads to kindergarten!
ReplyDeleteI like the first picture the best. It just looks like a strong building with lots of character and history before I even read anything about it.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous colour! Nothing like time to do such a thing! The building is grand and the curtain shot is fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI really like the general view of Livorno behind this very impressive building. Where did you climb to? The curtains are so cheerful, they add life to the stern building!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great old building and a wonderful view.
ReplyDeleteThese photos are all charming. Thanks for linking back to the pigeons. I really loved that photo!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a HUGE school! The curtains in the window make this part of the school seem a bit more inviting.
ReplyDeleteI love those pretty little curtains in contrast to the massive building, it takes a fine eye to pick up on such details.
ReplyDeleteThe shot of the school building from above is wonderful! The color of the stone is lovely. Where did you take it from? Many of the buildings from this era in Livorno remind me of the official buildings of Pula. I used to think them so stately as a small kid. (http://pulainfo.hr/en/kamo-ici/libraries/36/)
ReplyDeleteLove the colorful curtains.
ReplyDeleteI like the multicolour curtains as well.
ReplyDeleteI love the entrance photo!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful building, I like its sturdy yet elegant look. Lovely details too, noticing these makes our daily photographers job a true pleasure, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteBeautiful building! And you caught it from a great angle!
ReplyDeleteBut what a big school for such young children :)
Lovely colorful window.
ReplyDeleteYou Got A Posty
All Little Things I Like
It is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThe same shape and 3 floors as my elementary school in Chicago, but yours is 30 years older and not grey.