Livorno, Italy – A significant piece of the city’s history has been secured for future generations with the official handover of the keys to the historic clock building in Piazza Luigi Orlando to Istoreco, the Institute for the History of Resistance and Contemporary Society in the Province of Livorno. The transfer, completed on March 6, 2026, marks the culmination of a restoration project and a new chapter for the building, once the entrance to the Orlando shipyard.
The building, a landmark in the Porta a Mare district, will now serve as a headquarters and archive for Istoreco for the next nine years. This move allows the institute to expand its work preserving and promoting the region’s historical memory, particularly concerning the Resistance movement and the city’s industrial past. The handover underscores the city’s commitment to safeguarding its cultural heritage and fostering a deeper understanding of its history.
Restoration and Transfer of Ownership
The clock building underwent a comprehensive restoration funded by Igd (Immobiliare Grande Distribuzione) and Società Porta a Mare. The restored structure was officially transferred to the Comune (City of Livorno) in 2023 as part of an urban planning agreement. The Comune then decided to entrust Istoreco with the building’s management, recognizing the institute’s vital role in preserving local history. The agreement, approved by the City Council on January 27, reflects the city’s dedication to honoring the values of peace, freedom, and pluralism rooted in its historical traditions.
During the handover ceremony, Livorno Mayor Luca Salvetti presented the keys to Claudio Massimo Seriacopi, President of Istoreco. Likewise in attendance were Lilia Benini, Vice President of Istoreco; Catia Sonetti, Director of Istoreco; Laura Fedi, Istoreco’s educational director; Pietro Caruso, President of the City Council; Paola Licheri, Vice President of Arci Territoriale; Gianfranco Giachetti, President of the Jewish Community; Nives Romano of the Igd group; Ilaria Chirici representing the Provveditorato; and Gino Niccolai, provincial president of ANPI (National Association of Italian Partisans).
A Moving Tribute to Holocaust Remembrance
The handover event also included a poignant performance by students from the “Gianni Rodari” middle school in Scandicci. The third-grade classes C and H presented “Performance di memoria,” a choral tribute to Rebecca Corinna Mieli, a Livorno native and Jewish citizen deported to Auschwitz from Scandicci in May 1944, where she perished. The students were accompanied by the Mayor of Scandicci, Claudia Sereni, Council President Gianni Borgi, and their teachers. This moving tribute highlighted the importance of remembering the victims of the Holocaust and the need to combat all forms of discrimination.
Istoreco’s Extensive Archive
Istoreco’s archive is considered one of the most significant collections of historical documents in the Livorno area, covering the political, social, and cultural history of the 20th and 21st centuries. The archive comprises approximately 600 archival units (boxes and files), along with loose materials, three collections of posters, and around 800 letters and postcards currently being cataloged. The archive is part of the Network of Archives of the Province of Livorno, which in turn is part of the Territorial Documentary System of Livorno, led by the Biblioteca Labronica F.D. Guerrazzi.
According to the terms of the agreement, Istoreco will be responsible for the building’s routine maintenance, security, and utility payments, while the Comune will handle major repairs. Istoreco plans to utilize the building as its primary archive location, with additional space for its library already established at the Gherardesca complex on Via Galilei.
Statements from Key Figures
Mayor Salvetti emphasized the symbolic importance of the building, stating, “This represents a symbolic place. Here was the shipyard that gave work to many citizens of Livorno and guaranteed important productions for the city. Then there was an evolution that saw the transformation of this part of the city, but we wanted to maintain a historical reference represented by the clock building. It has been recovered, renovated and repurposed. We thought to build it available to another institutional body, Istoreco, which does a very precious job related to memory, anti-fascism and the workers’ movement.”
Claudio Massimo Seriacopi, President of Istoreco, expressed his enthusiasm for the new location, noting, “Istoreco was founded on September 30, 2008, and this year we approach of age! Finally, we have a headquarters that we hope is definitive, since over the years we have changed five. The new headquarters will have two locations: this one in Porta a Mare where the archive will be located and Via Galilei at the Gherardesca complex owned by the Province where the library is already set up. For Istoreco, in this particular historical moment, this assignment represents a starting point to have the opportunity to make ourselves more known, but also to spread culture. We wish to fuel a precise and certain historical knowledge, supported by documents, avoiding the risk that everyone cultivates their own personal memory. Too many narrate the events of the past according to their own political gain.”
The revitalization of the clock building and its dedication to Istoreco represent a significant investment in preserving Livorno’s rich history and ensuring its accessibility to future generations. The project highlights the importance of remembering the past and using it to inform a more just and equitable future.
As Istoreco settles into its new headquarters, the focus will turn to cataloging and making its extensive archive more accessible to researchers and the public. The institute’s work will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping a deeper understanding of Livorno’s past and its place in Italian history.
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