Our “lungomare” is completely wrong: you have to walk on the side of a heavily trafficked Viale Italia while the seafront, beyond some green, is occupied by a crowded parking. Cars on their way to the parking obviously cross your waking path almost continuously, as do the ones coming back to the street.
It was a nice arrangment when there were only horses and buggies, it is a folly with cars, bus and scooters speeding along the boulevard. The funny thing is that the whole place was renewed a few years ago, but the sea air was left to the parked cars while the promenade still enjoys the emissions of the passing vehicles.
Before the advent of the Republic in 1946, Viale Italia was called Viale Regina Margherita in honor of the
Queen Margherita of Savoy, the one made world-wide famous by the pizza. The boulevard has always been Livorno's promenade as shown in these postcards (1917 top, 1927 bottom).
(Postcards digitized from the collection of Antonio Cantelli)
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Flying over Livorno
It is a beautiful shot VP. Love the old postcards.
ReplyDeleteSurprising how much has remained the same.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful waterfront!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful looking place.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it is really hard to understand city planning decisions, it's absolutely the same here VP, a total mystery :) I do love the old photos so much.
ReplyDeleteI nominate you for office of Livorno City Planner, VP.
ReplyDeleteReally pretty view from way up high. Too bad so many vehicles spoil some of the modern enjoyment down below, though.
ReplyDeleteIt is a beautiful view! But isn't it strange that sometime our "leaders" never learn a thing from the past? I'd guess there were some financial considerations involved in setting up your "lungomare" - someone got rich because of the present design. I love those old postcards!
ReplyDeleteGreat postcards and wonderful aerial view. Judging from what happens here, I guess Lowell may be right.
ReplyDeleteI suppose Lowell is right. It still looks wonderful from the air though!
ReplyDeleteSoothing compared tp what I'm staring at this day.
ReplyDeleteYes, there are many cars parked along the sea. Once these things are created, it is hard reversing things.
ReplyDeleteCity planning gone wrong. Too bad.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Stefan, love the old postcards.
ReplyDeleteThat's a nice photo, completed by the old postcards.
ReplyDelete