Spent Spring Break in Italy visiting family and friends and taking lots of pics.  Livorno, Firenze, and Montepulciano.  Livorno is an industrial/port city of about 170,000 people - it was nearly leveled during WWII - so much of the construction is newer.  The coastline just south of Livorno is spectacular.

 

Viale Italia - the beach is right across the street.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Livorno vs. Vicenza ended in a tie 1-1.

 

Cinque e cinque (5 & 5) a local specialty.

 

 

 

 

 

Polpo - octopus salad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Piazza della Repubblica built over old canal.

 

 

 

Oddly enough - one of the tallest residential towers in Italy is located in Livorno.

 

 

Spaghetti allo scoglio.

 

Nice.  I'm hungry!

 

Where exactly is this?

So beautiful! I wish I made it down there a few years ago.

Very nice. Thanks for posting.

Fantastic shots!

Excellent shots.  I never made it to Livorno during my time in Italy.  Are your friends and relatives "communisti?" 

 

Was the soccer match the Livorno squad?  Who were they playing against?

Delightful-looking place, and interesting food. Thanks for the tour.

Nice. I'm hungry!

 

Where exactly is this?

 

Outside the Florence/Pisa area, on the Mediterranean.  I've been to Viareggio a bit up the road.  Beautiful area of the country.

Thanks Doc. 

 

Anyone been to the Naples area?  My paternal grandparents are from Alvignano, a small town just outside Naples.

Excellent shots. I never made it to Livorno during my time in Italy. Are your friends and relatives "communisti?"

 

Was the soccer match the Livorno squad? Who were they playing against?

 

Ha ha...No, but they despise Berlusconi.  Livorno was the center of the Italian Communist party - but I think they have lost most of their power as times have changed.  Yes it was the Livorno squad - Il Amaranto.  They were playing Vicenza - Livorno was about the win the match when Vicenza scored on a penalty kick in last seconds of stoppage time - for a moment I thought the fans were going to riot.

Thanks Doc.

 

Anyone been to the Naples area? My paternal grandparents are from Alvignano, a small town just outside Naples.

 

Yes.  Never to the town where you grandparents are from.  If you go, stay in Sorrento.  The city of Naples is a cess-pool.  Even Italians will tell you that. 

Thanks,  maybe one day I will get there.  My father was born here, but lived there for 5 years as a child,  then fought there during the war.  He never wanted to go back after that.

 

My maternal grandparents are from Calabria.

Beautiful!

Looks like a great trip to a beautiful country. Good photography work.

Those cramped canals are amazing.  Thanks for sharing.