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Art Cities >> LIVORNO
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Livorno (Leghorn) preserves its fascination of the old
marine Cities together with the fact that the Cities was designed
by the Renaissance master, Bernardo Buontalenti, to be the ideal
Cities.
A Cities with many different faces, naturally cosmopolitan thanks
to the harbour and the closeness to the sea which have privileged
the interaction between cultures, languages and races.
Thanks to the intellectual dynamism, Livorno is the hometown
of many important artistic and cultural personages: the old
marine town has contributed to the history of art and the European
culture with names such as the opera singer Pietro Mascagni,
the painter from the Macchiaiolo movement, Giovanni Fattori
and the genius of Amedeo Modigliani.
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Discovering the Cities |
| Religious itineraries |
| The cuisine of Livorno |
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 SOME
HISTORY....
Livorno was founded the 28 of March
in 1577 when Cosimo I, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, entrusted
the design of the "ideal Cities" to Buontalenti in order
to have an opening to the sea. At the end of the 16th century,
communities which had been forced to leave their places of origin
due to ethnic, racial political or religious persecutions arrived
to Livorno thanks to the liberal policies of the Grand Duchy
of Tuscany, an exception from the reactionary policies in the
other Italian States. In this way, Jews, Greeks, Armenians,
Englishmen and Dutch citizens settled down in Livorno and created
the atmosphere for cultural, political and intellectual interactions.
During the "Risorgimento" (period in the Italian history
between 1815 to 1870, translator's note), Livorno, a town with
strong anarchist and socialist traditions, provided illuminated
minds that were aware of freedom and the independent national
cause.
 LOCAL
TRADITIONS
The Trofeo di Vela Accademia Navale - Città di Livorno
is celebrated every year around the 25 of April and 600 boats
from all over the world take part in the regatta. The best two
thousand sailors, crew and skippers come to Livorno to participate
in this classical Italian event, with more than 75 regattas
and 14 classes on 9 different tracks. Many cultural and artistic
events accompany this important sea festival. In June or July
the different quarters (rioni) of the Cities contend the Gare
Remiere (Rowing Races). ). But the most important event
during this period of the year is certainly the Palio Marinaro
which is held in July at the inlet facing the Terrazza Mascagni.
It is the event "par excellence", where the quarters
of Livorno contend the "drappo" (the cloth). At the
end of June there is another suggestive event, the Coppa
Barontini, a rowboat race at night. Once again the quarters
challenge each other in a time-trial along the channels of Livorno,
passing the historical quarters. The Coppa dei Risi’atori,
which is celebrated at the end of June at sea, has Medicean
origins: the name of the event comes from the verb "arrisicare"
which meant to "risk your own life", and in this case
, refers to the sailors who risked their life at sea. Only the
8 best quarters are allowed to participate in this competition,
which starts at the Torre della Meloria and ends after having
concluded the 8 km. At the end of July it is time for the Effetto
Venezia, a festival with music, events and art on the streets
of the historical quarter Venezia in Livorno. The suggestive
network of channels and narrow streets, bridges and hamlets,
becomes animated thanks to the stalls, the artisan expositions,
the entertainment and the typical specialities from the local
cuisine. |
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