“Via Borra” is named after Marco Alessandro Del Borro, Governor of Livorno from 1678 to 1701. Under his rule the “
Fortezza Nuova” was reduced in size with the creation of the new quarter of “Venezia Nuova” (New Venice).
The elegant street crosses the quarter flanked by some beautiful buildings. The “Palazzo delle Colonne di marmo” (Palace of the Marble Columns) was built around 1703 for Ottavio Gamberini, a merchant from Lucca. The architect was probably the renowned sculptor
Giovanni Battista Foggini (1652-1737). The last floor is clearly a later addition.
The facade is completely covered in Carrara marble, enriched by four pediments decorated with statues representing the seasons.
“Via Borra” is named after Marco Alessandro Del Borro, Governor of Livorno from 1678 to 1701. Under his rule the “Fortezza Nuova” was reduced in size with the creation of the new quarter of “Venezia Nuova” (New Venice).
The elegant street crosses the quarter flanked by some beautiful buildings. The “Palazzo delle Colonne di marmo” (Palace of the Marble Columns) was built around 1703 for Ottavio Gamberini, a merchant from Lucca. The architect was probably the renowned sculptor Giovanni Battista Foggini (1652-1737). The last floor is clearly a later addition.
The facade is completely covered in Carrara marble, enriched by four pediments decorated with statues representing the seasons.
Our city is old but you wouldn't know it. We didn't invest in marble and sculptures but I wish we had. It's beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThese kinds of buildings just boggle my mind. So incredible and so gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteCompare: I heard the other day that some home builders in Florida now use Styrofoam in parts of their homes' facades!
Fantastic facades with wonderful details!
ReplyDeleteHi there. I have been following your blog for a while yet never commented, I think.
ReplyDeletePity the last floor was added. It looks so cheap and nasty compared to the lower ones.
Very intricate details in 'mramor' - now I know where the Croatian word comes from.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous. The later addition kind of spoils it I think but the rest of the building is fantastic. I love the use of marble everywhere. I'm not too sure which one is spring and which one is summer though.
ReplyDelete@ ciel - I'm quite sure these are in order spring to winter. The ladies have the nice seasons, the guys the bad ones.
ReplyDeleteAmazing detail on the architecture. Yes, that top floor is slapdash. Lovely photos.
ReplyDeleteThis is an elegant architecture, I liked a lot the façade and those sculptures and all details.I think it's a very expensive building.
ReplyDeleteLéia
I can't imagine how much time and how many people were involved in doing all this beautiful carving! It's a joy to see close up.
ReplyDeleteRenaissance facade. A monument to the artistic & cultural endeavors of Italy -- a legacy to humanity. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a stunning facade...except for that unfortunate top floor. It's all in the details, isn't it.
ReplyDeleteI'm speechless at the moment...this facade is absolutely angelic. You're so lucky to live in such a beautiful city.
ReplyDeleteMore beautiful buildings. Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteA really beautiful palazzo. Your second photo can be among the ones travel agency show to people to lure us to Italy. It looks so much like one envisions Italy, yellow Vespa included (or maybe it's not a Vespa, I'm not sure)
ReplyDeleteThose sculptures are really beautiful. I love all the decorative details on those old buildings. You are lucky to live in an area with so much history!
ReplyDeleteYou know, since my recent trip to Italy I came to the conclusion that those Italians who have "Daily Photo" blogs and post just one photo per day, must be quite lazy.
ReplyDeleteNo other explanation.
Lol. Well, we women need to retain a few privileges, don't we?!
ReplyDelete@ ciel - But we got the grapes...
ReplyDeleteWonderful building. That top floor shows just how nice the lower ones are. As for the strange name of the orange ship, it's the Latin genus name for some nice flowers, lupine. I wonder if the rest of their fleet has flower names in Latin?
ReplyDeleteGreat building! Thank you for showing the details on it. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteGreat buildings with pretty details! it must be special to live with so many historical buildings. You are lucky!
ReplyDeleteWhat happen with second face, it looks a bit dark than the other.
ReplyDeleteMarvelous! I am so glad this one survived the war.
ReplyDeleteWish the owners designed the last floor to match the rest of it though.
Glad you showed us the details of the 'Mármore' de Carrara (portuguese version! :-) ) beautiful façade!
ReplyDeleteSuch a beauty - needs some love though. Are there any plans to restore and tidy up the facade a little bit? It is totally worth the effort - marvelous details /or should I say marbelous/
ReplyDeletethe statues are so old yet so beautiful!
ReplyDelete