Italy View from DIVE: Livorno and Capraia, Tuscany

Curated by Erminia Scarcella

DIVE opened the year on January 5 with Elisabetta Ullman who presented her hometown, Livorno, and the Island of Capraia with extreme clarity, richness of content, and a pleasant display. It reminds us of the importance of Livorno which becomes a free port in 1597 and begins to be the first modern and international city, open to all without discrimination of race, religion, language and culture based on the democratic vision of cooperation and acceptance of differences. Livorno became the international city of the time between the end of 1500 and the end of 1700. Italians, Levantines, Ponentini, Spaniards, Portuguese, Greeks, Germans, Jews, Turks, Moors, Armenians, Persians and others lived in Livorno !!!

The exhibition was very interesting and very pleasant: we learned a lot of information on the historical roots of Livorno that have influenced its culture and architecture. Elisabetta explained to us the multicultural environment of Livorno, the first true cosmopolitan city since the 16th century, helping us to understand the roots of events such as the scam of Modigliani's paintings and revealing the customs of the Livorno people, from "5 & 5" to scooters, at the Vernacoliere! His enthusiasm and pride for his Livorno animated the presentation, helping us to know and appreciate the characteristics of the city and the people of Livorno.

On behalf of DIVE we thank Elisabetta for having entertained us so pleasantly and for offering us such a rich and effective presentation.