Livorno. Storia e memorie

Within the pages of this book, the reader is guided on a journey of discovery through the port of Livorno, from Tuscan prehistory right up to post-war Livorno. The chapters trace the city’s main historical periods – from its origins to the Medici era, from Lorraine rule to modern-day Livorno – recounting its history through the men and women who have lived there. What sets Ciorli’s work apart, however, is the perspective he adopts: the passage of time seems to be observed through the city itself. The author focuses primarily on the buildings, the palaces and the transformations of the urban fabric, viewing them as a mirror of political, economic and social changes. The central theme is therefore the relationship between history and urban development. Events do not simply take place in a location, but help to transform it: from the reduction of the Fortezza Nuova to meet the needs of the population and defence, to the construction of the Voltone to link the two urban centres, right through to the development of San Jacopo in response to trade relations between Livorno and Trieste.