Saturday, June 1, 2013

Theme Day: The Beauty of Decay

Former thermal baths, Acque della Salute, Waters of Health, Livorno
It would be really hard to find a better local example of beauty of decay than “Le Acque della Salute” (The Waters of Health), the thermal baths that opened in 1904. The once elegant buildings lie now abandoned and only part of their gardens will be soon returned to public use as a park.
Panoramic view of Acque della Salute (Waters of Health) thermal baths in 1912, Livorno
A panoramic view of the complex in 1912.


Search labels: spa - postcard
See also: The Waters of Health

23 comments:

Randy said...

That's gorgeous. Nice choice for theme day.

RIZALENIO said...

I'm imagining this building when it was first built. I can still see the beauty in the midst of decay.

Happy weekend!

Dina said...

The little statue in front is the icing on this cake.
I wonder what it was like, going to these grand old thermal baths of Europe.

Jo said...

its good some of it is being brought back too life at least, better than rotting more

Unknown said...

Heartbreaking and magnificent at the same time.

Tamera said...

That is amazing, and it must have been quite beautiful in its heyday. Excellent choice for Theme Day!

Red Nomad OZ said...

The detail of the stonework is still amazing after all this time! I hope it didn't fail because the waters didn't provide a cure!!

Karl said...

Beautiful example for this theme, VP.

Gunn said...

I can hear a voice saying: remember....location-location, and the place could have been perfect for filming as well as photo shoots.
Don`t tell it to the Italian Vogue..... They will be there very soon with all their people and plus plus.

wilf said...

Is so thoughtful for you to place also the gorgeous image of it before fallen into this state, somehow I find the beauty of it now still breathtaking....

LOLfromPasa said...

Quite an impressive building that would be wonderful to see restored. In the meantime, do like your photograph as it stands now and brilliant that some of the grounds will be opened to the public soon.

Gerald (SK14) said...

Let us hope the gardens can be restored and the ruins preserved.

Tanya Breese said...

wow, it was a pretty lavish place back in the day! i like that you posted the comparison photos....nice to hear they will be fixing it up....it's beautiful!

cieldequimper said...

Arggh. Melancholy...

LONDONLULU said...

What a contrast, beautiful and sad and the same time. I hope they can restore the area well.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

So nice to see the original building VP, what a very elegant building it was back then.

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

It still stands with its glorious architecture, a tribute to times past. I can close my eyes and imagine it in its original state (thanks to your old photos). So glad that it will be part of a park.

Bises,
Genie

Julie said...

How sad it is to see this amount of decay in such a magnificent building in really only a short period of time, just a century. it must have been a structure that the community did not really want at all.

Thank you, VP, for your contribution to our Theme Day.

Jack said...

Good choice, VP. It must be hard to find rhe funds to fix up public baths, a function that is not as important today as in the past.

Lynette said...

You’ve made a great Theme Day post. I'm glad you picked these for today. Thanks for the informative text.

paul said...

Great theme day contribution.

Babzy.B said...

wow ,excellent choice ! :)

Stefan Jansson said...

I am a bit impressed by that panoramic image from all those years ago.