Sylvester

Today is the feast of Saint Sylvester, but ours is obviously not a saint...

Search labels: Moby - ferry

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San Giuseppe

The construction of the church of San Giuseppe (Saint Joseph) began in 1839, on a project by the Florentine architect Giuseppe Puini, on what was before a restricted military area.

The church was consecrated in 1842, but it was soon damaged during the Austrian invasion of 1849. A few years later, in 1952, the church became a hospital duiring a virulent cholera epidemic.

In the early 1900s, at the time of these old postcards, the parish of San Giuseppe was, with almost 9000 inhabitants, the most populated parish of Livorno.

The church was used as a warehouse during World War I, it was restored in the 1920s, but the building was heavily damaged again during World War II.

(Postcards digitized from the collection of Antonio Cantelli)

Search labels: postcard

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Between Sea and Sky

A couple of years ago I have already posted a similar photo. It is taken from the green light at the entrance of the Porto Mediceo, one of my favorite spots for taking pictures of the passing ships.

See also: Over the Porto Mediceo

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Folding Bicycles

A couple of Peerless Barracuda folding bicycles, chained to a post on “Scali Saffi”.

(Picture taken last September)

Search labels: bicycle art
External links: Bicycle Art

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Silvana

The 56m sailing yacht “Silvana” was launched in 2008 by Perini Navi, in Viareggio. With a 58.8 meter main mast and a 48.26 meter mizzen, both in aluminium, she has a total sail area of about 1500 m².

(Pictures taken last June)

Search labels: sailboat
External links: Silvana (Perini Navi)

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Panettone

“Panettone” (plural “panettoni”) is a sweet leavened egg bread made with butter, raisins and candied orange. Originally from Milan, “panettone” is not easy to make: it usually comes in 1 kg pieces and the average price for a mass-produced industrial version is around 4 Euro, while the hand-made version goes for 4-5 times that. Some other variations are available such as plain or with chocolate, but they are not the real thing. It is served in slices, usually with “spumante” (sparkling wine) or sweet wines.

External links: Panettone

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Starry Night in via Maggi

Christmas decorations in “Via Maggi”.

A Christmas tree in “Piazza Cavour”.

Merry Christmas to everybody!

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New Playground

A few weeks ago a new playground appeared on the worn grass of “Piazza della Vittoria”.

It looks less space age and more practical than the futuristic playground of “Villa Fabbricotti”.

I have yet to see some kids around it, but I probably pass by at the wrong hours of the day.

(Pictures taken last November)

See also: Dangerous Playground

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Cenciaiole Livornesi

Some of our countless “artists” has tried to improve a decorated planter in “Piazza Attias”.

The original painting: “Cenciaiole livornesi” (Livornese rag dealers, 1880) by Eugenio Cecconi.

See also: Piazza Attias - The Big Red A - The New Attias - The Red Tower - Lungomare di Antignano - Steamhip in Port - Six Months

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The Ugly Bridge

The drab “Ponte della Venezia” (Venice's Bridge), seen from the “Scali del Ponte di Marmo”. It was probably slightly better just after its construction, but the bridge now looks like a greyish sad hulk amid the freshly repainted buildings around it. This is probably the thing that could be made more interesting by some colorful and well planned mural.

The other bridges of New Venice: Ponte di Marmo - Ponte dei Domenicani - Ponte di San Giovanni - Ponte dell'Angiolo - Ponte del Luogo Pio - The Non-Bridge of Crocetta - Ponte della Fortezza Nuova

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Four Years

Today is the winter solstice, the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, and the start of the 14th baktun according to the Maya Long Count. If you are reading this, the world has not ended yet and it is time to celebrate the fourth birthday of our blog.

(Click on any thumbnail for the corresponding post)

See also: Three Years of PowerShots

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Upside Down

A building reflected in the water of the “Fosso Reale”.

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RIBs and Rubber Dinghies

Last May I captured these unusual images of a Navy RIB leading a flotilla rubber dinghies out of the port.
I wonder if this was some kind of drill or a test for the guys in the dinghies...

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From Church to Church

San Ferdinando's dome seen trhough a window of the “Luogo Pio” (Pious Place) deconsecrated church.

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Ten-String Guitar

I have already shown you some of the instruments made by the gentleman luthier Furio Sciumbata. I do not post many portraits, but I am glad to introduce the man himself proudly holding his last creature.

This is an exquisite classical ten-string guitar that our luthier has made in almost four months of work.

The elaborate finishing of the sound hole: all the black parts of the guitar and the inlays are made of ebony.

See also: Lutherie Workshop - Cuatro, Clàrsach & Dulcimer - Guitars, at Last!
External links: Ten-string guitar
Contacts: Centro di ricerca e pratica musicale (Lutherie Workshop) - f.sciumbata@alice.it

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Port Gate

Port gate, november 2012

Port gate, early 1900s

(Postcard digitized from the collection of Antonio Cantelli)

Search labels: postcard

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Tired of Livorno?

If you ever got tired of Livorno, you only have to walk to the “Terrazza Mascagni” to cheer yourself up.

Search labels: Terrazza Mascagni

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The Barriers of Art

We have already seen in another post how Livorno is rich in art and artists. Their work is often misunderstood or ignored and our goal is to show you some of the most interesting installations.

“Dying sawhorse barriers”

“Scrawny barriers festooned with red and white tape”

Aee also: Curbside Art

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Capitals

Columns with Ionic and Corinthian capitals on the second and third floor of the façade of “Palazzo Rosso”, with a glimpse of the Doric capitals of the first floor.

External links: Doric order - Ionic order - Corinthian order (Wikipedia)
See also: Palazzo Rosso - Piazza Cavour

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Call Sign: IQRH

A call sign is a unique designation for a transmitting station: merchant and naval vessels are assigned call signs by their national licensing authorities.
The call sign for the “Tito Neri” tug is IQRH, but I am not even sure if they use it in ordinary trasmissions.

See also: Tito Neri
Search labels: tug
External links: Call sign

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Hanging Garden

A secluded terrace over the “Fosso Reale”, seen from the San Benedetto bridge.

See also: No-Name Bridge - San Benedetto Bridge

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Most Blessed Sacrament Chapel

The altar of the “Cappella del Santissimo Sacramento” (Most Blessed Sacrament Chapel) in our Cathedral: the altarpiece is “Cristo coronato di spine” (Christ Crowned with Thorns), painted by Fra Angelico around 1440.

See also : Duomo di Livorno - Around the Duomo - Via Cairoli - After the Snow - Fontana del Duomo - Inside the Cathedral

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