Thursday, September 30, 2010

Parco Centro Città

Parco Centro Città, LivornoThis is the “Parco Centro Città” (City Center Park). We can see a couple of crane where once was the “Odeon” movie theater and the “Astoria” residences in background.Parco Centro Città, LivornoThe park has a small pond with some shy fountains.Parco Centro Città, LivornoAlways quiet and mostly deserted on an early Sunday afternoon, it takes almost the whole space inside a large city block delimited by “Via Ricasoli”, “Corso Mazzini”, “Via San Carlo” and “Via Verdi”.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Mastio di Matilde

Mastio di Matilde, Fortezza VecchiaThe oldest part of the “Fortezza Vecchia” is the “Torre Quadrata” (Square Tower), which once guarded the Pisan port, its lower part still visible now. The round tower known as “Mastio di Matilde” (Matilda's Keep) was built after 1241 or even later. Matilda of Tuscany died in 1115, so the attribution is obviously wrong.Mastio di Matilde, Fortezza VecchiaSince the second half of the 14th century the two towers were surrounded by by a wall called “Quadratura dei Pisani” (Pisans' Square Fort).Mastio di Matilde, Fortezza VecchiaThe fort guarded the southern entrance of the almost interred old Pisan port and the “Pamiglione”, the oldest part of the harbor of Livorno. With the construction of the “Fortezza Vecchia” the older structures were included in its walls.Florentine lily, Fortezza VecchiaThe Florentine lily, a later addition to the round tower.

See also: Fortezza Vecchia - Piazza dei Grani - Scalo Regio - Porta del Duca - Cortile d'Arme - Capitana - Ampolletta - Molo del Soccorso - Canaviglia - Palazzo di Francesco - From the Top
Search labels: Fortezza Vecchia

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Back Home

red bicycleThe streets of Livorno are quite duller after some time in Rome.CRUCE LivornoA new shop has opened in “Via Ricasoli”, as announced here.stuffy mouseA poor mouse hanging upside down in the same street.fake sweetsA bowl of (fake) sweets in the window of a clothes shop.old buzzerA buzzer that wouldn't be out of place in “Brazil” or “Dune”...

Monday, September 27, 2010

Palazzo di Francesco

Palazzo di Francesco, Fortezza Vecchia, LivornoThe only survivor of the buildings on this part of the fortress is the “Palazzo di Francesco”, built by Francesco I de' Medici, practically rebuilt after the war.
Palazzo di Francesco, Fortezza Vecchia, Livorno During the reconstruction, part of the wall was purposedly left unplastered, to show how the building was originally built.
Palazzo di Francesco, Fortezza Vecchia, LivornoThe small balcony was added on a request by Cavaniglia himself.

See also: Fortezza Vecchia - Piazza dei Grani - Scalo Regio - Porta del Duca - Cortile d'Arme - Capitana - Ampolletta - Molo del Soccorso - Canaviglia - Mastio di Matilde - From the Top
Search labels: Fortezza Vecchia

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Drawings

Palinuro training ship, LivornoThe “Palinuro” in the “Porto Mediceo”, last year.Palinuro training ship, drawingA detailed drawing of the same ship.Amerigo Vespucci training ship, LivornoAn archive shot of the “Amerigo Vespucci” at the Capitaneria pier.Amerigo Vespucci training ship, drawingA drawing of the “Amerigo Vespucci”.Cristoforo Colombo training ship, drawingThe “Cristoforo Colombo”, sister ship of the “Amerigo Vespucci”.

Thanks to our friend Lazer_One for these images, check for more drawings and info his great blog: Lazer_One’s Blog.

Search labels: Amerigo Vespucci
External links: Amerigo Vespucci (Wikipedia)

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Location

If you lack imagination, just try the name of the place: a bar near “Piazza Cavallotti”.Another bar at number 4 “Via Maggi”, where “quattro” is four.“57100” is the zipcode of Livorno. By the way, today we're coming home from a long Roman holiday.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Canaviglia

Canaviglia, Fortezza Vecchia, LivornoThis is the only bastion named after a real person, the Neapolitan nobleman Cesare Cavaniglia, Tuscan admiral and Knight of Order of Saint Stephen. Our forefathers switched two syllables and now he'll be forever remembered as “Canaviglia”.Canaviglia, Fortezza Vecchia, LivornoThe unusual feature of this bastion is the small palace, with a view of the “Porto Mediceo”, built by Francesco I de' Medici.
Canaviglia, Fortezza Vecchia, LivornoThe “Canaviglia” seen from the swing bridge between the “Porto Mediceo” and the cargo port.Canaviglia, Fortezza Vecchia, LivornoAnother marble lion head, just like the one on the “Ampolletta”.Canaviglia, Fortezza Vecchia, LivornoA view from the Capitaneria pier, with the swing bridge open.

See also: Fortezza Vecchia - Piazza dei Grani - Scalo Regio - Porta del Duca - Cortile d'Arme - Capitana - Ampolletta - Molo del Soccorso - Palazzo di Francesco - Mastio di Matilde - From the Top
Search labels: Fortezza Vecchia

Thursday, September 23, 2010

A Day in August

yellow lifejacketSome patches of color around the Old Harbor in an unusually grey day last August.puppet witchWho hanged this puppet witch? The fishermen working nearby?buoys and fishing netsChains of buoys and fishing nets waiting to be fixed.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Molo del Soccorso

Molo del Soccorso, Fortezza Vecchia, LivornoA view of the southern side of the fortress with the “Canaviglia” on the left, the “Molo del Soccorso” just in the middle and the “Mastio di Matilde” towering behind.Molo del Soccorso, Fortezza Vecchia, LivornoOn 17th October 1600 Marie de' Medici sailed from here in a galley aptely named “Reale” to arrive in Marseille and then in Paris as queen of France, after the marriage with Henry IV.Molo del Soccorso, Fortezza Vecchia, LivornoNow the jetty is used as a landing for boat tours of the canals.

See also: Fortezza Vecchia - Piazza dei Grani - Scalo Regio - Porta del Duca - Cortile d'Arme - Capitana - Ampolletta - Canaviglia - Palazzo di Francesco - Mastio di Matilde - From the Top
Search labels: Fortezza Vecchia

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Dumpsters

Emptying dumpsters, LivornoThis is one of our garbage truck, or as they say Waste Collection Vehicle, emptying dumpsters in “Viale Caprera”, almost where a new canal has been recently dug.Emptying dumpsters, LivornoThis type of side loader is automatic and it is usually operated by the driver alone.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Ampolletta

Ampolletta, Fortezza Vecchia, LivornoThe “Ampolletta” (Small ampoule) bastion still looks relatively intact. Its name probably comes from the diminutive term for the hourglass keeping the time of the fortress.Ampolletta, Fortezza Vecchia, LivornoThis marble lion head is a replica of a bronze one where the galleys used to moor, the originals is now kept in the entrance hall of the Province of Livorno.Ampolletta, Fortezza Vecchia, LivornoA view of the the eastern side of the bastion, the “Porta del Duca” is on the right.coat of arms of Jean II Le Maingre, called BoucicautThe coat of arms of Jean II Le Maingre, called Boucicaut, Marshal of France, appointed Governor of Genoa by Charles VI in 1401.Ampolletta, Fortezza Vecchia, LivornoBetween the “Ampolletta” and the “Canaviglia” (in background) is visible a small jetty called “Molo del Soccorso” (Relief Pier).

See also: Fortezza Vecchia - Piazza dei Grani - Scalo Regio - Porta del Duca - Cortile d'Arme - Capitana - Molo del Soccorso - Canaviglia - Palazzo di Francesco - Mastio di Matilde - From the Top
Search labels: Fortezza Vecchia

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Tradesmen

People sometimes choose funny ways to advertise their trade: this is the van of a local plumber.Here we have a house painter......and some building contractors.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Elqui

Container ship Elqui (IMO 9149897), LivornoA sequence of the 184 meter container ship “Elqui” turning before leaving port.Container ship Elqui (IMO 9149897), Porto Baratti tug, LivornoThe tug “Porto Baratti” is pulling, the “Porto di Livorno” is behind.
Container ship Elqui (IMO 9149897), Porto Baratti tug, Livorno
Search labels: tug

Friday, September 17, 2010

Capitana

Capitana, Fortezza VecchiaThe “Capitana” (Captainess) bastion barely survived some Allied bombs hitting German ammunitions stored inside.Capitana, Fortezza VecchiaThe walls were somewhat “grafted” together after the war, but the damage is visible and the bastion is still off-limits for visitors. This is the part of the fortress you see better from the terrace of the former “Piazza dei Grani”.Capitana, Fortezza VecchiaSadly, several half sunken boats around the bastion's southern end spoil the beautiful view.

See also: Fortezza Vecchia - Piazza dei Grani - Scalo Regio - Porta del Duca - Cortile d'Arme - Ampolletta - Molo del Soccorso - Canaviglia - Palazzo di Francesco - Mastio di Matilde - From the Top
Search labels: Fortezza Vecchia