An entry to the Combat art competition by Lorenzo VadiAn independent art competition has been launched by the Associazione Culturale Blob Art. It is open to anyone living in Italy, and there are two categories for entries: artists under 50, and students under 25. The competition is for the painting medium and entries should be submitted by 3rd April 2010.

Costumes & Accessories at the Costumeria Panciatici13th February 2010 We are coming up to the height of the Carnival period, with Martedì Grasso (Shrove Tuesday) on the 16th February this year. If you are thinking of dressing up and heading off to a special carnival party or even to Venice, the Livorno-based  Costumeria Panciatici can help you out.

Tucked away on the first floor of a palazzo in Via Magenta, the Costumeria Panciatici is a family-run costume hire business that has been going for more than 30 years.

the Soul Contact cd coverFollowing his interview on live Italian radio a couple of weeks ago, British singer-songwriter Giles Foster, resident in Livorno, is now on the Punto Radio playlist with the track Don't Hide Your Heart taken from his album "Soul Contact". You can listen to Punto Radio on 91.6FM or on-line at www.puntoradio.fm by clicking on the 'Ascolta Online' section.

View of the Old English Cemetery in Via Verdi, LivornoA powerful research document about Livorno's rich past

For ten years now Matteo Giunti, lover and part-time scholar of Livornese history, has been putting together an archive of material regarding merchants in Livorno. In fact, on several occasions he has kindly and very quickly supplied me with information regarding people from Livorno's past, allowing me to answer emails that I receive from people tracing the histories of families linked in some way with Livorno, or Leghorn, families such as the Gowers, for example.

5th February 2010

Pensiamo in Grande - A project inviting you to submit YOUR ideas for Livorno's future

Piazza GrandeStarting next Sunday, 7th February 2010, is the first phase in the project launched by the Comune di Livorno to gather ideas and proposals from Livorno's citizens regarding the planned redevelopment of the old city centre. The project has been named Pensiamo in Grande ('Let's think big!'), 'Grande' referring to the central Piazza Grande and Via Grande which form the main axis of the heart of Livorno.

29th January 2010

A new venue for breakfast, lunch and aperitivo

Via Maggi Quattro - New Bar in Via Maggi, LivornoA new bar has just opened in Via Maggi, just off central Piazza Cavour.  Via Maggi Quattro, as the bar is called (after its address), is small, bright and cheerful, and just right for a morning coffee break, or an early evening aperitif.

From Piazza XX Settembre to the Port of Livorno

5 August 2009 American Market relocated to the Port of LivornoLivorno's American Market - Il Mercatino Americano - has just reopened in a brand new location inside the port, after nearly sixty years in Piazza XX Settembre. The market became popular after the opening of the US army base Camp Darby in nearby Tombolo (on the way to Pisa) and in the 70s was well-known throughout Italy as the place for army surplus gear and American jeans and food products.