VisitForte events portal for tourism Forte dei Marmi
La Mancina
The Mancina of the loading pier
«…What activity around that pier! A constant coming and going of small vessels, carts laden with marble, and men. Towering above it all stood the Mancina…»
Giorgio Giannelli – “La Bibbia del Forte dei Marmi”, 1970 – Ed. Versilia Oggi
In 1877, at the extreme end of the Loading Pier (Ponte Caricatore) of Forte dei Marmi, the Mancina was installed: a powerful, massive iron crane used to lower marble blocks into the holds of cargo ships. It was known as the Mancina because it rotated exclusively to the left. In September 1943, when the Loading Pier was demolished as it was considered a potential support structure for enemy troops, the Mancina also sank into the sea.
The first recovery effort took place in September 1986, led by divers Giuseppe Lottini and Enrico Boncompagni. On November 24, 1993, Giuseppe Foffa, President of the Association of Maritime Workers, revived the initiative with the aim of creating a monument in memory of La Mancina and of assembling the recovered fragments into a unified work, which was inaugurated on May 1, 1995, based on a design by architect Tito Salvatori. Among the promoters of the project were Emilio Barberi, recipient of the Gold Medal for Military Valor, Captains Ettore Polacci and Galliano Raffaelli, seaman Luciano Figlié, and Luciano Luciani.
The marble base, installed by Ennio Bazzichi, building contractor and Knight of the Italian Republic, features three white marble bas-reliefs sculpted by Rino Giannini, depicting the demanding work of transporting marble from the quarries of the Apuan Alps down to the Loading Pier.
In January 2017, a final recovery operation was carried out by Sub Versilia of Forte dei Marmi and its president, Primo Cardini, bringing additional fragments of the Mancina to the surface. The crane’s old arm still rests on the seabed.
The sculptural harmony of the architectural design was conceived to define a geometric space in which the Mancina can be observed from every angle. The composition includes an entrance marked by two small columns, a walkway guiding visitors toward the monument, and two softly contoured benches. A brass plaque set into the marble base and two marble stelae complete the commemorative ensemble of the square.
Dominating the entire marble composition stands the Mancina, resting on a symbolic block of marble bearing the inscription: “To the workers of the sea.” These words commemorate the hard labor of a bygone era and a small seaside town that grew around Fortino Leopoldo I.
Monument to La Mancina - Piazza Lavoratori del Mare - Via Spinetti at the corner of Viale Italico - Forte dei Marmi
The marble bas-reliefs
THE PEAK IN THE QUARRY
White Carrara marble, 1995, h 30 x w 154 cm
THE PASSAGE THROUGH THE TOWN
White Carrara marble, 1995. H 30 x W 154 cm
YESTERDAY AS TOMORROW
White Carrara marble, 1995, h 30 x w 154 cm
Piazza Garibaldi with the Fort, from which the town takes its name. On the left, the now-destroyed fort kiln (Forno del Fortilizio) is still visible, and behind it, part of the marble well. Around the fountain, two women and a child collect water to drink and cool off. At the foot of the bastion, oxen with carts drink from the marble basin still in place, though the fountain spout is already closed. The absence of the rooftop casemate of the fort kiln and of the sculpture La Vittoria by Arturo Dazzi suggests the photograph was taken between 1910 and May 1937.
Marble depot on the seaward side of the Fortino. A picture where men and oxen still work together in the demanding task of loading and unloading the precious material. Early decades of the 20th century.
Marble depot, seaward side of the Fortino. Oxen pulling sledges across what is now Via Spinetti. The sledge is hauled up a gentle incline leading to the hillock to load the marble onto the cart. Early decades of the 20th century.
Marble depot, seaward side of the Fortino. Loaded carts with precious material stand by the sea, ready to travel along the Loading Pier toward the Mancina. The flowerbed separates the rails from the main road, now Via Spinetti. On the opposite side of the street stands today the Mancina Monument. Early decades of the 20th century.
Rail locomotive in the marble depot, to the right of the present-day Via Spinetti. Through the leaves of the plane trees, the kiln of the Fortino is still visible. Early decades of the 20th century.
Photographs taken by Carlo Frediani and his sons Vincenzo and Frediano Frediani. Early decades of the 20th century. Courtesy of Sergio and Fabio Lo Jacono. Reproduction is prohibited.
Eugenio Cecconi (1842–1903), “Il ritorno delle Fienaiole” (The Return of the Haymakers), circa 1880, Società di Belle Arti di Viareggio
Arturo Dazzi, “Pagliai” (Haystacks), 1930, oil on canvas, 79 cm high x 62 cm wide, private collection
In memory of the shipwrights of Forte dei Marmi. Side launching of a small vessel moored at the Loading Pier, with oxen at work. A communal celebration involving the entire town. Early decades of the 20th century.
Boat hauled ashore by oxen. Early decades of the 20th century.
Boat marked no. 11 being hauled ashore by fishermen. On the Loading Pier, the Mancina and the fishing scale are at rest, while three well-dressed figures foreshadow the tourist character of today’s pier. Early decades of the 20th century.
Photographs taken by Carlo Frediani and his sons Vincenzo and Frediano Frediani. Early decades of the 20th century. Courtesy of Sergio and Fabio Lo Jacono. Reproduction is prohibited.
The total or partial reproduction of this text or the images is prohibited without written authorization from the Culture and Tourism Office of the Municipality of Forte dei Marmi.
mfascetti@comunefdm.it - emattugini@comunefdm.it
