Paolo Gioli

Dedicated to his Family and Friends, and to Paolo GioliMontenero

Paolo Gioli describes himself as a born and bred ‘Montenerino’ since he has always lived in the hillside village of Montenero, just south of Livorno. Montenero, he says, is ‘in my blood’. He was born in 1963 and lives with his wife, Tiziana, and two daughters. Having started work at the age of seventeen, Paolo now runs, with two partners, a successful company, Labrochem, which he set up in 1989. The company makes chemical products for the cleaning of industrial machinery, especially in the tanning industry.

When not at work he is kept busy at his daughter’s school where he has been class representative for the past three years. He has recently also become part of the school’s council and likes the fact that he is involved in making decisions for the school and its pupils. He also enjoys going out in his boat, and in his youth he was one of the first rowers in the Montenero rowing team, the Sezione Nautica Montenero, helping them to gain the ten-man boat in the 1989 Palio Marinaro with a record time of 10’54’’. He began training at the age of 18 under Achile Bassini, master boat-maker and past champion of the famous Scia competition. He has given up the rowing now, but is still involved in the Montenero team as vice-president of the association and follows all Livorno’s important rowing events.

Still on a sporting theme, Paolo is involved in a yearly five-aside football tournament organised in Montenero in memory of two friends, Paolo Giannone and Alessandro Turini.

Paolo, How do you see yourself ten years from now?
I don’t have any particular ambition, but would just like to carry on as I am now, with the same attitude and spirit.

do you have a pet hate?
I hate people who take advantage of other people, or who let me down. I’m always ready to give people my help and trust and it upsets me when they take advantage of that.

What’s your favourite place outside Italy?
I’ve travelled quite a lot, and I think the place that most impressed me was Kenya, especially the people there. I also love Mexico and the way of life there.

And in Italy?
Tuscany has everything, from mountains to beaches and hills. It’s difficult to beat. But I also love the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, and the Tirolo in the Alps as I’m very keen on skiing.

What’s your favourite spot in Livorno?
Montenero, definitely. Especially the view over the sea at sunset.  On clear days in the winter you can see as far as Cap D’Antibes in France.

What do you miss about Livorno when you go away?
My family and friends and the familiarity of the place.

Would you ever consider living anywhere else?
No. I had the chance once, for work, but I turned it down. I couldn’t live anywhere else. My friends are too important to me.

What’s your favourite restaurant in Livorno?
When I eat out with my family, we usually choose a pizzeria, but if it’s just me and my wife, we like to go somewhere a bit special, like one of the restaurants in the Venezia district, or to the Astragalo in Castiglioncello.

What’s your favourite dish?
I love shellfish.

Choose: Ponce or Corretto al Sassolino
Ponce

Livorno’s best point?
The climate

Livorno’s worst point?
The fact that, even now in 2008, the city is still very closed to new initiatives for development, such as tourism.

Where would you take a friend on a one day visit to Livorno?
In the summer, on my boat to the Meloria, then to eat out in one of Livorno’s typical restaurants.

You can contact Paolo through his company at labrochem@tiscalinet.it