Thursday, July 15, 2010

Cinta Esterna

Leopoldine walls, LivornoThe Leopoldine walls were built to enforce tariffs, not for defence. Smugglers tried to hoist merchandise over the wall but these teeth effectively blocked the ropes.Leopoldine walls, LivornoThe wall still borders most of “Via della Cinta Esterna” (Road of the Exterior Boundary)...Leopoldine walls, Medicean walls, Livorno...until it meets the older tract of Medicean walls, where was once located the Public Slaughterhouse.

17 comments:

Luis Gomez said...

VP, thank you for these beautiful photos and the info on them. They are really wonderful. Beautiful colors.

Lowell said...

Very interesting. I suppose the entire city was walled at one time. Do you know how old these walls are?

Roberto Machado Alves said...

The walls have various shades. Great shots.

Regards,

Roberto
http://clicksderoberto.blogspot.com

Hilda said...

An old wall to an even older wall. What a history!

VP said...

@ Jacob - The Leopoldine walls were built around the 1830s, while most of the Medicean walls are almost two centuries older.

Cezar and Léia said...

Historical wall!Very impressive!
hugs
Léia

brattcat said...

Fascinating...the part about the rope. Thanks, VP.

Gunn said...

Interesting, AND a lot of work must have been put in to building the walls.....

Halcyon said...

Interesting story. I wouldn't have known what the teeth were for.

Now we all just pay the VAT and have it done with!

Small City Scenes said...

Very interesting---just to imagine these wall are still standing. MB

B SQUARED said...

Obviously, before the internet.

Lois said...

Interesting! Those teeth do look a little scary.

Virginia said...

I love the pattern that the "teeth" made along the top. Nice shot!
V

stromsjo said...

Tax collecting, old style...

Unknown said...

How interesting! Haven't seen or heard this before.

Francisca said...

Interesting to see the two old walls meet. The teeth is something I've never seen before... although here people put glass chips on the top of walls to discourage climbers.

Dina said...

Such a simple yet effective idea, those wall teeth.
I'm glad the smugglers were not into tunneling.