Attias

It takes only a minute to walk from “Piazza Attias” ...... to “Santa Maria del Soccorso”, in “Piazza della Vittoria”.But you have to pass near this ...

See also: Piazza Attias - Santa Maria del Soccorso - Ugly Corner

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Landmarks

The “Canale dei Francesi” (Frenchmen's Canal) links the Old to the New Harbor. On a pier, used by fishermen, we can find a compass rose, perfectly aligned with the geographic north.I saw this mark inside the “Porto Mediceo”: it says “caposaldo di livellazione” (geodetic control mark) of the “Rete Mareografica Nazionale” (National Tide Gauge Network).

See also: Torre del Marzocco - Tower of the Winds - Strange Clock

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Cisternone

We have already seen this strange building, called “Cisternone” (Big Cistern), in Half-Dome Fad.The half-dome or “semicupola” is the main characteristic of the “Cisternone” and it is considered one of the projects nearer to the dreams of the visionary French architects Étienne-Louis Boullée and Claude-Nicolas Ledoux.The “House of supervisors of the source of the Loue” was a project for the ideal city of Chaux, published in 1804 by Ledoux.The Hôtel Guimard, often called Terpsichore temple, was built in Paris from 1770 to 1773, on a project of the same Ledoux.

See also: Half-Dome Fad - Cisternino di città
External links: Gli architetti rivoluzionari (Politecnico di Bari, in Italian)

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Borgo Cappuccini

“Borgo dei Cappuccini” takes its name from the Capuchin friars, exactly like our world famous coffee drink. We already had a walk there a few months ago, but it's time now to explore it again.An oversize jagsaw puzzle piece outside a nursery school.The historical “Sezione Borgo” (local branch) of the former Italian Communist Party. The flag is of a more recent political faction.The funny facade of a stationery and copy shop.A gate made of leaves...A notice of the nearby “Cantina Senese”: return your empties!

More Walks

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The Last Santas

“Via del Bosco”

“Via Grande”

“Borgo dei Cappuccini”

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Audrey's Bags

We have already seen in another post how much Audrey Hepburn is still so popular here and, probably, elsewhere.After signs and t-shirts, now is the turn of handbags.

See also: Audrey Hepburn

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Christmas Trees

This Christmas tree is in front of the Cathedral, in “Piazza Grande”. Not much of a tree and even slightly leaning, but our new bishop is a Pisan after all.“Christmas 2010 is the first beautiful thing” quotes the title of the movie filmed in Livorno in 2009: “La prima cosa bella”.At work we have this quite original Christmas tree decorated with computer parts: connectors, memory sticks and fans. Garlands are made from printer ribbons and cables.

Happy Christmas to Everyone!

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Christmas Eve

White bears and a Christmas tree, “Via Magenta”

A mannequin and a star, “Via Ricasoli”

A rose shaped candle, “Via Marradi”

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December Chairs

December chairs

October stools

August chairs

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The Exile

“L'esule” (The Exile) is a sculptural group made around 1840 by the sculptor Temistocle Guerrazzi (Livorno 1806-1884). The work shows an exile ready to cross the border, in the sad act of leaving his family to seek refuge abroad.The statue was bought by our Municipality in 1889 and was placed in the front yard of the “Gherardesca” compound in 1904.

See also: Istituto “Pietro Mascagni” - Benefactors' Room

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Two Years

Today we celebrate our second anniversary. On this occasion we'd like to thank all our followers and readers for their support.Here is our first walk after the snow. It was almost sad seeing this snowsomething melting away.What we have known as the “Green Gas Station” is on the verge of being dismantled.A crystal Santa staring at the camera from a shop in “Via Marradi”.This is probably a wordplay joining “Deh”, our typical insert in a conversation, and “Gusto” (Taste) to make “DehGusto” (I degust).Something colorful for the Holidays, in the usual “Via Ricasoli”.

More Walks

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Cheap or Dear?

Animals in a windows: quite cheap at 5 Euro apiece.A more precious tiny fish: the price tag says 900 Euro.

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A Ray of Hope

Last Wednesday the Dutch Church made a tiny appareance on the front page on our local paper, along with an extensive coverage of the decay of the building in another page. Let us celebrate this sparkle of interest with an image of the only remaining (almost) intact window of the church.

This is an excerpt from a video shot by Claudio Ceccarini during our visit inside the church. Search labels: Dutch church See also: Abandoned Church - Scali degli Olandesi - Chiesa degli Olandesi - Sad Preview - A lecture - Finale - Falling to Pieces - Flying Rats - Another Collapse - Fenced Off - Piazza Poerio - The Places I Love - A Few More Votes - Rose Window - Second Place? External links: Temple of the Dutch German Congregation (Wikipedia) Facebook Group: “Salviamo la chiesa degli Olandesi a Livorno” (Save the Dutch church in Livorno)

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Snowfall

At last, most of Tuscany and even Livorno got some snow. Here is our “Fortezza Vecchia” dusted with white.Palm trees on the “Pamiglione” (Old Harbor).The southbound lane of the “Santa Trinita” bridge is blocked.The “Scali degli Isolotti” and the bell tower of “San Ferdinando”.A snowman outside a newsstand, in “Piazza del Municipio”.

More Walks

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Feeding a Ferry

The “Giglio”, named after the island of the Tuscan Archipelago, is the newest bunkering tanker of the D'Alesio Group's fleet. She is one of the now rare ships built in Italy, at the Giacalone Shipyard in Mazara del Vallo.Here the tanker is feeding fuel oil to the ferry “Moby Corse”, with her distinctive bunch of cartoons.

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Smart Business

“Le Pharaon”, a video game arcade

“The Look of the Year”, a fashion show

A local optician shop

See also: Smart Love - Nine Smarts - Smart Love II - Smart Forever
Search labels: Smart

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Roadworks

Roadworks are much less traumatic for our streets now.Digs look so neat like they were cut by some laser beam...... and excavators look like oversized toys.

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