Friday, November 20, 2009

Antonio Benci School

Antonio Benci elementary school, LivornoThe “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.Antonio Benci elementary school, LivornoThe 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”.Antonio Benci elementary school, LivornoNowadays 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?”.

30 comments:

Luis Gomez said...

Very nice Vogon, Love the building. Great photo of the window.

Virginia said...

They are all lovely but I"m thinking I"m partial to the last one. Beautiful trio!
V

Clueless in Boston said...

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.

Lowell said...

What an incredible building! We have a few older school buildings that look similar but none of this size and magnificence.

I 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?

Unseen Rajasthan said...

Another Beautiful Series of Fantastic shots !! Loved the BUilding!!Unseen Rajasthan

Gunn said...

These 3 photographs are all very nice and interesting, and they stand well together. The last one is my favorite...... Who and what is inside???

Have a nice weekend! :-)

Glennis said...

They are keen on different coloured curtains for every window. Nice series.

Hilda said...

Imposing 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.

VP said...

@ Jacob - Sorry, one of my many slips: I mean kindergarten...

Kate said...

The massive building itself is quite impressive, but your photos give us a great view of past and present.

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nobu said...

Elementary scholl building?
Suprised!
Any way, wonderful building.

Halcyon said...

How did you get up high enough for the first photo?

This school definitely does not look like any we have around here. But I like it!

VP said...

@ Halcyon - This picture is taken from the gangway around the skylight of the Mercato Centrale.

Cezar and Léia said...

Congratulations Vogon Poet, your first picture is really outstanding!Ahh that Mercato Centrale, so cool,I remember your posts about!
This beautiful building is huge and I think those curtains are a fabulous detail!
Léia

Lowell said...

@ 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!

Tom Bailey said...

I 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.

Unknown said...

Absolutely gorgeous colour! Nothing like time to do such a thing! The building is grand and the curtain shot is fantastic!

cieldequimper said...

I 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!

James said...

What a great old building and a wonderful view.

tapirgal said...

These photos are all charming. Thanks for linking back to the pigeons. I really loved that photo!

Unknown said...

It looks like a HUGE school! The curtains in the window make this part of the school seem a bit more inviting.

PJ said...

I love those pretty little curtains in contrast to the massive building, it takes a fine eye to pick up on such details.

Tash said...

The 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/)

Wolynski said...

Love the colorful curtains.

Copenhagen said...

I like the multicolour curtains as well.

Tinsie said...

I love the entrance photo!

Andreea said...

Beautiful building, I like its sturdy yet elegant look. Lovely details too, noticing these makes our daily photographers job a true pleasure, doesn't it?

Kaori said...

Beautiful building! And you caught it from a great angle!
But what a big school for such young children :)

Tussy said...

Lovely colorful window.

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Dina said...

It is beautiful!
The same shape and 3 floors as my elementary school in Chicago, but yours is 30 years older and not grey.