london1967: (Default)
london1967 ([personal profile] london1967) wrote2012-03-12 12:50 pm
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Statues

I've always loved taking pictures of statues - I guess it's the equivalent of taking photos of live models for shy people! 

These 2 represents the Po and the Dora the 2 main rivers that cross Turin




They were made in 1937 and placed in a small square that was created during the remodelling of via Roma.
The square is now named after the Comitato di Liberazione Nazionale (the National Liberation Committee) but during the last years of WWII housed the Gestapo (replaced by the American headquarters at the end of the war) at the Hotel Nazionale. The hotel has recently closed. 

The two fountains are at the back of the lovely Piazza San Carlo which is considered the salotto (drawing room) of the city.
In the middle of the square there's the equestrian monument to Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy also known as 'Testa di Ferro' (iron head)


He spent many year warmongering around Europe.



He also moved the then capital of the Duchy of Savoy from Chambéry to Turin in 1563 and he abolished serfdom (yay!)
Despite this, the monument is known as Caval ëd Brons (Cavallo di Bronzo in Italian i.e. Bronze Horse)

Another head of the Savoy family - this time a king - is commemorated in Piazza Carlo Alberto.
But he gets little respect from the pigeons 


He is surrounded by some soldiers:






Carlo Alberto and Emuanuele Filiberto's equestrian monuments were created by the same artist: Carlo Marochetti, who also made the statue of Richard the Lionheart outside the Palace of Westminster in London!

And talking of lions...



I end this post with Julius Caesar's hand, near the Porta Palatina
At least he's not making a rude gesture

[identity profile] chiller.livejournal.com 2012-03-12 01:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Lovely statues (particularly Po and Dora), and lovely photographs.

[identity profile] london1967.livejournal.com 2012-03-15 10:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! Glad you liked them.

[identity profile] saintcahier.livejournal.com 2012-03-12 04:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Someone stole Caesar's phone !
Edited 2012-03-12 16:40 (UTC)

[identity profile] london1967.livejournal.com 2012-03-15 10:11 pm (UTC)(link)
LOL! LOL!

[identity profile] madknits.livejournal.com 2012-03-12 05:37 pm (UTC)(link)
I am especially fond of the statue of the Po.

[identity profile] london1967.livejournal.com 2012-03-15 10:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Great!

[identity profile] bobalone.livejournal.com 2012-03-12 07:40 pm (UTC)(link)
I remember this area very well...and the statues. I like your shot of the people sitting beneath the representation of the River Dora. It's interesting to compare these photos with those of the Fiat factory renovation; this area is so much more user-friendly, which accounts for the inevitable array of human variety that one can see (and shoot) at any given time of the day (and night?). And, of course, the pigeons on their perches.

[identity profile] london1967.livejournal.com 2012-03-15 10:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh yes, it's all very different from the Lingotto!

[identity profile] mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com 2012-03-13 02:31 am (UTC)(link)
Love the final photo!

[identity profile] london1967.livejournal.com 2012-03-15 10:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks!

Beautiful (as always)

[identity profile] ursine1.livejournal.com 2012-03-13 06:21 am (UTC)(link)
Really enjoying your photos Franco. The weather has been cooperative as well.

Chuck

Re: Beautiful (as always)

[identity profile] london1967.livejournal.com 2012-03-15 10:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you Chuck!

[identity profile] tilia-tomentosa.livejournal.com 2012-03-14 01:03 am (UTC)(link)
Your models do pose nicely. ;)

[identity profile] london1967.livejournal.com 2012-03-15 10:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes and they never complain about holding a pose!

[identity profile] tilia-tomentosa.livejournal.com 2012-03-15 10:15 pm (UTC)(link)
LOL not even with a pigeon on their head!

Fabulous as always

[identity profile] piowapuff.livejournal.com 2012-03-18 09:59 pm (UTC)(link)
And I love the idea of photos of statues is for the shy. makes perfect sense!

Re: Fabulous as always

[identity profile] london1967.livejournal.com 2012-03-20 04:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks very much!