.JPG "Rowing boats, or Gozze, lined up on the canal")
Rowing boats, or Gozze, lined up on the canal
In 2013 Livorno's traditional rowing teams were re-organised, several of them being brought together under new names. There are now eight teams: four representing the city quarters that lie within the historic pentagon-shaped city designed by Buontalenti - Venezia, Pontino, Benci Centro and Borgo Cappuccini.
Dear visitors, After 15 years of providing information about Livorno, as from 1st May 2020 the Livorno Now website will no longer be updated. You can continue to follow us and contact us through our Facebook page or by email livornonow@gmail.com
A huge thank you to Kelsey and Lucy for the original idea for this project, and for all their support and encouragement in those early days. And thank you to all the people in Livorno and worldwide who have positively contributed to the site over the last 15 years
The Antignano colours
The Antignano rowing club (now part of the Livorno Sud team) was founded in 1932 as the Dopolavoro Moriani Antignano. In 1954 the ten-man team won their first Palio Marinaro, and in 1997 the Antignano four-man rowing team won the Coppa Barontini, the Coppa Risiatori and the Palio Marinaro.
The Ardenza colours
The Sezione Nautica dell’Ardenza (now part of the Livorno Sud team) is one of Livorno's oldest rowing clubs. The club won its last ten-man Palio Marinaro in 1983 and the four-man Palio in 2004. It has also achieved victories in the Coppa Barontini, and the Coppa Risiatori.
The Benci Centro colours
As far as the rowing competitions are concerned, the team continues to be given its familiar Ovo Sodo ('boiled egg') nickname by rowers and fans alike.
The Sezione Nautica Benci Centro rowing club has won the Coppa Barontini 4 times with the ten-man boat - in 1987, 1996, 2006 and 2007, the Coppa Risiatori 3 times with the ten-man boat – in 1986, 1992 and 2008, and the Palio Marinaro an astonishing 7 times with the ten man boat – in 1984/1987/1992/1995/ 1996/2006 and 2007. They were also the winners of the Palio in 2008.
The Borgo Cappuccino colours
When the Orlando Shipyard was opened in 1865 on the site of the San Rocco Lazzaretto, the district underwent considerable social changes. Many hundreds of shipyard workers lived here and their marine skills were developed to produce many excellent rowers, port pilots, fishermen, swimmers and boat builders.
The Colline colours
The people of Colline have always been great sportsmen, excelling in particular in cycling. They first took part in the Palio Marinaro in 1951, when the Sezione Nautica Colline was founded.
The Fabbricotti colours
The Fabbricotti rowing club (now part of the San Jacopo-Fabbricotti team) participated in the minor Palio races from 1954 under the name of Rione del Fanale. After a long break the team made a comeback in 1973. Today’s Sezione Nautica Fabbricotti was founded in 1978 when the four-man boat came first in the Palio Marinaro and was promoted to the 10-man race for the first time ever.
The Magenta colours
The Magenta rowing team first took part in the Palio Marinaro in 1954 with the Origine team in four-men boats. It was later renamed Magenta -Origine and has obtained several good placings.
The Montenero colours
In 1951 Montenero participated in the organisation of the Palio Marinaro, contributing to the expenses and providing some of its own young rowers for those districts who needed them.
In 1973 Montenero formed its own team, and in 1979 the Sezione Nautica Montenero was established.