What is now the clinic “Villa Tirrena” was once “Villa Albatros”, the old name is still decipherable... trying to connect the dots.
When the “Dopolavoro Ferroviario” (railroad workers' club) was founded, it bore the name of the Fascist leader Costanzo Ciano, still visible after the post-war deletion.
I have no idea of what was written here, on the facade of “Villa Montano”. Any suggestion welcome.
This is our last set of turrets, belonging to a pair of identical villas.
A turret is still open while the other is closed by windows.
The two villas share a large pool on the back of the buildings.
Both houses sport ornate corner balconies. This is our last stop along “Viale Italia” and, for a while, we are done with turrets.
We have already seen some extravagant turrets along this tract of “Viale Italia”, but these are different.
The turrets have a pergola supported by multiple columns.
In an excellent corner location, the villa has a lot of green around.
Another look at the turret decorated by amphora-like vessels.
On the right side of the “sagrato” of the Sanctuary of Montenero there there are the gated porches of the “Famedio”.
“Famedio” literally means temple of the fame and is the place where the more notable Livornesi are buried.
Here are the tombs of Francesco Domenico Guerrazzi, Carlo Bini, Enrico Pollastrini, Giovanni Fattori and Paolo Emilio Demi.
Two plaques remember Amedeo Modigliani and Pietro Mascagni, buried respectively in Paris and in the Misericordia cemetery of Livorno.
It is a cold afternoon but it's not raining, so my Sunday walk start with this window not far from “Piazza della Vittoria”.
On the other side of the square a seventy square meter surface gave the owner of this business an idea for its name.
The very old fashioned sign of an optician in “Via Ricasoli”.
Corner buildings in “Via Ricasoli”, just before “Piazza Cavour”.
Not far, one of the oldest pubs in town, with a very original name.
Strange to see the Bomb Squad van parked by the Four Moors...
...and a helicopter of the “Guardia di Finanza” hovering nearby.
In “Piazza di Montenero” few steps divide the secular part of the square from the “sagrato”, which is the consecrated space in front of a church. On a facade we can see a statue of Pope John Paul II by Antonio Vinciguerra, placed as a memento of the pastoral visit to Livorno and the Sanctuary in 1982.
The old sign says:
Once the now covered well of the Sanctuary was located here.
From “Piazza delle Carrozze” (Carriages Square) the “funicolare” (funicular) carries you almost at the top of the hill of Montenero, where you can visit the Sanctuary of “Santa Maria delle Grazie” or simply enjoy the beautiful view from the panoramic terrace.
The service of the “Funicolare di Montenero” started in 1908, but it has been renewed a few times since then.
The funicular is now powered by a battery of solar panels.
Back to the normal facades on “Viale Italia”, where we have this time our first, but not last, case of twin villas.
The buildings are painted different colors, like twins who wish to dress differently.
After detecting some smoke from the windows of this apartment, the Fire Brigade was promptly called by some passers-by. We are in the quarter of New Venice, you can see near the front of the fire engine the facade of the Palace of the Marble Columns.
The firemen wear their self contained breathing apparatus.
They begin to climb the ladder to go up in the bucket.
From the window they flush what seems to be the main fire.
Ready to go inside to check if someone is still in the apartment.
It seems that nobody was there, so the worst part is now over.
The first villa of the new block has as much as two turrets but is strangely facing a side street of “Viale Italia”.
Its facade, which is the side, on the avenue is not so impressive.
From “Villa Letizia” the pair of turrets is perfectly visible.
An impressive picture of the destruction around the “Cisternino” and “Piazza della Repubblica”, taken in 1943 after one of the raids.
Looking south from the roof terrace of “Villa Letizia”: we see the busy “Viale Italia”, then the pines of the “Rotonda” and the quite rocky coastline of Antignano. The farthest visible point is more than two kilometers away.
Against the eastern hills stands the water tower of the “Caserma Paolo Vannucci”, were part of the Folgore Parachute Brigate is quartered. That would be another good point of view...
The Ardenza Stadium, now “Armando Picchi”, lies just north of the villa. The “Grattacielo” is our modest and only high-rise.
On the northwest the track of the “Ippodromo Federico Caprilli” and its grandstand with, in background, the buildings of the Naval Academy. If you look closely, you may even recognize some familiar turrets. On the far right, in the haze, the “Fanale”.
A panoramic view showing the extension of the park of the villa.
