In the past we've talked several times about the odd harbour town that looks and feel nothing like Tuscany. We've explored its famous coffee punch, the street food, its rivalry with the neighbouring Pisa but we have never talked about the odd monument that is so close to the hearts of livornesi. Its story is quite curious and not well known outside of town, as the many controversies that surround it since it was commissioned in the 16th century. That is why this week What's Up Tuscany will bring you back to Leghorn to tell you everything there is to know about the Four Moors, its inconvenient symbol. If you listen to the full episode you will know how this statue was built to celebrate the Medici family and Tuscan victories during the long privateering war that raged for centuries in the Mediterranean. And yet, no one cares about the Grand Duke: the four Barbaresque prisoners at his feet were so lifelike and vibrant to steal the show. Despite being beloved by its inhabitants, many feel that the monument celebrates slavery. Livornesi vehemently disagree: for them it's a symbol of freedom, second chances at life and the rebellious spirit of a town that still remembers how it was built from prisoners and ex-convicts. Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.it Twitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscany LINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY) https://www.viverelatoscana.it/i-quattro-mori-il-monumento-di-livorno-tra-leggenda-e-curiosita/ https://www.turismo.it/cultura/articolo/art/titolo-id-8323/ https://www.livorno-effettovenezia.it/luoghi-di-interesse/i-quattro-mori/ https://www.iltirreno.it/livorno/cronaca/2020/06/14/news/uniti-contro-il-razzismo-ai-piedi-dei-quattro-mori-ma-la-statua-non-si-tocca-1.38967022 BACKGROUND MUSIC Pipe Choir - Bom Bom Breakthrough (Instrumental) Aerocity - Love Lost Wayne John Bradley - Pick you up Wayne John Bradley - Waiting Profound Beats - Lo-Fi Wayne John Bradley - Blues Rock Original Instrumental All released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-bom-bom-breakthrough-creative-commons-instrumental https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pc-one-a-dark-blue-arc-creative-commons-instrumental https://soundcloud.com/argofox/aerocity-love-lost https://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/pick-you-up-slow-poprock-style-instrumental-creative-commons https://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/waiting-original-uplifting-indie-pop-style-instrumentalcreative-commons https://soundcloud.com/profoundbeats/profound-beats-lo-fi-free-download https://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/blues-rock-original-instrumentalcreative-commons http://www.pipechoir.com/