MSC Vigo

The tugs “Piero Neri”, “Alfredo Neri”, and “Porto di Livorno” assist the 270-meter container ship “MSC Vigo” in leaving the port. (Photos taken last March)
Here the “Porto di Livorno” is pulling from behind, while the “Piero Neri” is backtracking along the side of the ship.

A tiny Optimist sailboat caught against the stern: the ship's beam is 40 meters.

See also: Piero Neri - Alfredo Neri - Zim Qingdao & MSC Vigo
Search labels: tug

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Squirting Cucumber

We all know that it's a bad world out there, but one would not expect to be attacked by a plant. This happened a few days ago when I tried to photograph some strange bulbs in Via Salvatore Orlando: they repeatedly popped, squirting something in my direction. Only after the fact I have learned that these plants are called squirting cucumbers, and now I know why...

External link: Ecballium elaterium (Wikipedia)

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Greetings from Livorno #5

Another postcard published by Künzli Frères in Zurich around 1900 with a view on the Grand Hotel Palazzo, the Cisternone, and the Four Moors.

A postcard published by Vierbucher in Milan showing us the Lighthouse, part of the Porto Mediceo, and the main building of the Naval Academy.

(Postcards digitized from the collection of Antonio Cantelli)

See also: Greetings from Livorno - Greetings from Livorno #2 - Greetings from Livorno #3 - Greetings from Livorno #4 - Grand Hotel Palazzo - Cisternone - Four Moors - The Lighthouse
Search labels: postcard

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Fiamme Azzurre

A sailboat of the Fiamme Azzurre (Blue Flames), the Penitentiary Police sports club, against the side of the passing 214-meter container ship “Lisbon Express”.

See also: Lisbon Express - M/V Lisbon Express
External links: Gruppo Sportivo Fiamme Azzurre (Wikipedia)
Search labels: sailboat

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Zumpa Dancing

I know very little about ‘Zumba’, but I have no idea what ‘Zumpa’ is. They do it in Borgo dei Cappuccini.

External links: Zumba (Wikipedia)
See also: Borgo Cappuccini

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Citroën DS

The Citroën DS was a revolutionary car for its time, designed by Flaminio Bertoni. It was the first mass production car equipped with disc brakes. ‘DS’ is pronounced in French as ‘Déesse’, which means goddess.

External links: Citroën DS - Flaminio Bertoni (Wikipedia)
See also: Volkswagen Beetle
Search labels: vintage car

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Queen Victoria

This is not my best backlight shot, but I have finally caught the 294-meter “Queen Victoria” in our waters. I already saw her slowly negotiating the Giudecca Canal, in Venice, a couple of years ago.
In the above shots you can see her sliding by the Madonna dei Popoli and then turning toward the open sea, just outside the port.

See also: Madonna dei Popoli - MS Queen Elizabeth - Queen Elizabeth
External links: MS Queen Victoria (Wikipedia) - MS Queen Victoria (DPS)
Search labels: cruise ship

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Cat of June

In my February Cat post I was quite worried for our old friend, the grumpy cat. As you can see he is alive and well...

See also: Watch Cat - The Grumpy Cat - Killer Gaze - February Cat
Search labels: cat

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Via Minghi

Some curious buildings in Via Minghi, just off Viale Petrarca.
The strangest thing is probably the blue of the top balconies...

Livorno Daily Photo has just passed 600,000 page views: as always, thanks to you all!

See also: 500,000 - 2000! - Half a Million - Top Ranking Blog

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Rope Barometer

I have an absolute distrust in weather forecasts, because they are almost always wrong or simply exaggerated. I wonder why people keep listening to the demented words of these charlatans, like they were an oracle: compared to this even a horoscope looks like science. On the other hand, I have recently discovered a serious and well-thought device that can help us against these apostles of the uncertain weather, and I am glad to share it with you. It is an ancient contraption called “Barometro a corda” (Rope Barometer), and you can easily build your own. Rope Barometer Rope dry: sunny Rope wet: rainy Rope stiff: freezing cold Rope moving: windy Can't see the rope: fog or you drank too much Rope gone: somebody stole it

(This is not from Livorno: I found it under the porticoes of Via Saragozza, in Bologna)

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Running at the Terrazza

Running at the “Terrazza Mascagni”. (Photo taken last May)

See also: Terrazza Mascagni
Search labels: Terrazza Mascagni - from behind

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Lady Mara

It has been a while since my last post of “bicycle art” and I hope you will appreciate the drama of this work placed on the lungomare, not far from the new building at the Scoglio della Regina.

“Call me ‘Mara’! That’s because the Almighty has dealt bitterly with me.” (Ruth 1:20)

Search labels: bicycle art
External links: Bicycle Art (Inspiration Green)

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Scuola Elementare Montenero

A “mural” of ceramic tiles dated 1961 on the wall of the Montenero Elementary School.

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Vica

The 44-meter “Vica” is a Model Vision yacht built in 2010 by Benetti, with the exterior design by Stefano Righini and the interior by Zuretti. She can accomodate up to ten guests in five comfortable cabins. I have read that last year she was on sale for about 15 million euro.

External links: Vica (Yacht Charter Fleet)
Search labels: yacht

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One More Blackbird

I was late when I saw this bird in Piazza della Vittoria, but he wasn't in a rush.
So I took my time and here it is his portfolio...

See also: The Blackbird - A Blackbird - Blackbirds Don't Tweet - The Singing Blackbird
Search labels: bird

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The Chandelier

The antique chandelier in the Council chamber of Town Hall ‘converted’ to energy saving lamps.

See also: Town Hall - Footbridge with a View - City Council - The Busts in the Council - The Reliefs in the Council

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San Jacopo

The church of San Jacopo in Acquaviva and its small pier. (Photo taken last April)

A wider view of the same area in an old postcard.

(Postcard digitized from the collection of Antonio Cantelli)

See also: San Jacopo in Acquaviva - The Missing Bell Tower
Search labels: postcard

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Perle di Livorno

The “Perle di Livorno” (Pearls of Livorno) are the three islands of the Tuscan Archipelago within the province of Livorno: Gorgona, Capraia and Elba. It is also the name of a race where the sailboats touch the three islands before coming back to Livorno. The winner of the third edition was my friend Roberto with his “Ondalunga”.

See also: Ondalunga - Gorgona
External links: Tuscan Archipelago (Wikipedia)
- Via col vento, trionfa l’Ondalunga di Cestari (Il Tirreno, in Italian)
Search labels: sailboat

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Clouds

Late afternoon: clouds over the Fosso Reale. (Photo taken last May)

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Harley-Davidson

A Harley-Davidson in Via Montebello.

See also: Harleys

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Hämeenmaa

The “Hämeenmaa” is a minelayer of the Finnish Navy, launched in 1991 and thoroughly modernized in 2007.

The ships of this class, the other is the “Uusimaa”, are practically perfect for monitoring Russia's Baltic fleet.
Since October 2013 the “Hämeenmaa” is also the flagship of the Finnish Navy.

External links: Minelayer - Hämeenmaa-class minelayer (Wikipedia)

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A Gallery and a Museum

The bishop of Livorno has recently announced the intention of transforming the small porticoes on the sides of our Cathedral in a permanent gallery and a diocesan museum of sorts.

See also: Works around the Cathedral - A New Piazza Grande? - Duomo di Livorno - Around the Duomo - Fontana del Duomo - Inside the Cathedral - Most Blessed Sacrament Chapel - Marco Alessandro del Borro

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Lions Staircase

Lions do not watch only gates, but also staircases: this is the majestic entrance of Palazzo Squilloni.
As we have already seen, the building entrance is on Scali Cialdini, but its side faces the Fosso Reale.

See also: Scali D'Azeglio - On the Fosso Reale - Palazzo Squilloni

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Coppa Risi'atori 2015

Last Saturday I wasn't able to be at the “Coppa Risi'atori”, but here are the photos of my friend Maurizio.

The crew of the “Venezia” won the race for the seventh year in a row.
“Ovo Sodo” ended up second and “Borgo Cappuccini” was third.

“Salviano” was last, with only nine rowers... Maurizio is also a good photographer, isn't he?

[Photos by Maurizio]

See also: Coppa Risi'atori - Coppa Risi'atori 2012 - Maurizio - Walk... on Water
Search labels: rowing

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The Mayor Speaks

The photo was shot on May 8 and the mayor, Filippo Nogarin, was speaking at a political meeting in Piazza Attias, introducing his party's candidate in the regional elections that took place over the last weekend.

See also: A New Mayor - City Council - Piazza Attias

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Otterness' Fiddler

The above panel is one of a series advertising a new bus service in Lower Manhattan: the image is a detail of the sculpture “The Real World” by Tom Otterness, in Battery Park City, New York.

I am obviously quite happy that they used, after asking permission, a photo of mine for this ad.

External links: Tom Otterness (Wikipedia) - Fiddler on the Roof (DPS)
Search labels: Otterness (DPS)

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Pam Superstore

A winter view of the Pam Superstore, in Piazza Saragat. (Picture taken last March)

English version

Fratelli Neri

We have already seen many of the tugs working in the port of Livorno: today it is the time of the “Fratelli Neri”.
The 24-meter “Fratelli Neri” was built in 2007 at the Rosetti Marino shipyard in Ravenna, Italy.

In all these images the tug is assisting the 286-meter container ship “Rio de Janeiro”. Like almost every other tug of the Neri fleet, the “Fratelli Neri” has also fire fighting capabilities.

See also: Calm Waters - Baltimore, København - Maersk Kimi - Rio de Janeiro
External links: Neri Group (Official site)
Search labels: tug

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