Venice lights 2006
113 pics
RemovedChecked on "as of" date (either in person or via latest GSV available), removal happened as late as that date or before
as of Nov 2017
Here's a selection of lighting and some touristy pics taken during a trip to Venice in September 2006. Most of the following lighting pics are commented. We'll start in Mestre, 1 hour outside Venice, with a bizarre looking pole with some fixtures with axially mounted lamps...very odd.
Update Nov 2017: Many thanks to Franco
Gobbo, who says that these fixtures were always HPS, and that they were
replaced with LED fixtures some years ago.
Update Oct 2007: Thanks to a lead on lighting-gallery.net, these fixtures have been identified as AEG (formally Philips) Citylux 560. Not sure if they are mercury as we never saw them lit, but they would be 125W if they are.
Update Oct 2007: Thanks to a lead on lighting-gallery.net, these fixtures have been identified as AEG (formally Philips) Citylux 560. Not sure if they are mercury as we never saw them lit, but they would be 125W if they are.
SurvivingChecked on "as of" date (either in person or via latest GSV available), so can be assumed to be surviving at least as far as that date
as of Oct 2017 (refurbished by May 2013)
Rio Tera Lista di Spagna, Venice
It seems as if the whole city was converted to a new system some time in 2001, all the dates on the lamps in the newer fixtures on the following pages we saw are the same.
Update Nov 2017: Info from Franco Gobbo reveals that in
2011, the city of Venice started a public private partnership where
they sold and leased back their lighing system, and a programme of LED
refurbishment began. The existing fixtures had their HQL-B mercury
lamps and ballasts removed and a LED module installed. Also, the LPS
fixtures on top of the "Briccole" in the bay were changed to
solar powered LED. The project is due to complete in 2020.
Update Aug 2013: A TV programme I saw dated 2013 shows quite clearly the new installation is still intact despite being probably 12 years old at the time of writing- no conversion to LED yet.
Update Aug 2013: A TV programme I saw dated 2013 shows quite clearly the new installation is still intact despite being probably 12 years old at the time of writing- no conversion to LED yet.
SurvivingChecked on "as of" date (either in person or via latest GSV available), so can be assumed to be surviving at least as far as that date
as of Oct 2017 (refurbished by May 2013)
Rio Tera Lista di Spagna, Venice. Possibly one of the few original (if not city owned) fittings left, the whole place being updated in 2001. This one doesn't work any more, and is a private installation.
SurvivingChecked on "as of" date (either in person or via latest GSV available), so can be assumed to be surviving at least as far as that date
as of Oct 2017 (refurbished by May 2013)
Rio Tera Lista di Spagna, Venice. This one doesn't even have it's glass any more. A junction box for the new system can bee seen in the background.
Some old power wiring can be seen here, the 2001 refit of all the lights in Venice seemed to consist of using the original brackets, but painting them, and replacing the old incandescent light source by fitting 80W
mercury ballast and lamp modules. I believe they are Ghisamestieri Crotone fixtures. The "SC" on the label means "Santa Croce"- the subdivision this light is in.
Update Feb 2020: Looking at some old movies shot in Venice, it seems as though these Ghisamestieri fixtures are somewhat newer than I thought. I'd assumed they might be as old as perhaps the 1940s, but as late as 1955 these were not
to be seen and the lighting consisted of what looked like the fixtures with Holophane glass pictured elsewhere on this page. Also the light sources were not mercury but multiple incandescent.
Image credits:
JR James Archive on Flickr ©2013
Google ©2013
Lopert Films Inc ©1955
JR James Archive on Flickr ©2013
Google ©2013
Lopert Films Inc ©1955
Update Jul 2020:More research with old movies and pictures, reveals that the change from the really old fixtures with the Holophane glassware (pictured above in 1955) was done between 1955 and 1962. The 1962 picture shows an
incandescent lamp fitted. Whether the Ghisamestieri Crotone fixtures
are the ones that were installed then, or are just reproductions of those fixtures installed at some point later on (between 1962 and 2001) is unclear.
The fixture pictured in 1962 is also shown here in a couple of pics from 2013 where it can be seen the mercury lamp and ballast have been replaced by a LED module.
The fixture pictured in 1962 is also shown here in a couple of pics from 2013 where it can be seen the mercury lamp and ballast have been replaced by a LED module.
RemovedChecked on "as of" date (either in person or via latest GSV available), removal happened as late as that date or before
as of May 2013 (flood) and changed again for LED in 2018
Riva Del Vin, Venice. Taken from the Rialto bridge, this shows detail of some of the double arm lights of the type that are on poles, as opposed to wall mounted (which most of them are). The lamps are 50W Osram HQL-B Super Deluxe mercury. The MH flood is lighting the Rialto bridge.
Here's a close up of a fixture ('SM'= San Marco subdivision)- get the full size pic and you'll see the marking on the lamp- an Osram HQL-B Super De Luxe 80W merc.
Somewhere near Calle Larga San Marco (Venice)
This is a city fixture, and it does work (merc). The junction box wasn't for this fixture.
Somewhere near Calle Larga San Marco (Venice)
This is a city fixture, and it does work (merc). The junction box wasn't for this fixture.
Light source changed to LED as of July 2020
Arcade of the Biblioteca Marciana (San Marco)
This is the last shop before the "Prom" and has these lovely old mercury fixtures.
Arcade of the Biblioteca Marciana (San Marco)
This is the last shop before the "Prom" and has these lovely old mercury fixtures.
Update Jul 2020:I've seen a recent (July 2020) picture of this location in a newspaper and the sad news is that these fixtures look to be LED now as the light source
has a much warmer colour temperature than my pictures here.
Light source changed to LED as of July 2020
Arcade of the Biblioteca Marciana (San Marco)
These are self ballasted mercury lamps, possibly 160W- this is the only 240V SB merc size that could fit in these shades. I say this as I did not see any evidence of external ballasts, also I could see a tinge of incandescent colour through the shade glass. If you get the fullsize version of the previous pic, you can see this tinge in the reflection of the lefthand fixture, in the shop sign.
Arcade of the Biblioteca Marciana (San Marco)
These are self ballasted mercury lamps, possibly 160W- this is the only 240V SB merc size that could fit in these shades. I say this as I did not see any evidence of external ballasts, also I could see a tinge of incandescent colour through the shade glass. If you get the fullsize version of the previous pic, you can see this tinge in the reflection of the lefthand fixture, in the shop sign.
Light source changed to LED before May 2013
Molo di Palazzo Ducale (San Marco) A dayburner- the whole row had just come on. Lamp is Osram 50W HQL Super Deluxe merc. Fixture is Ghisamestieri Venezia. You can see the etch clearly in the fullsize pic. The 2 round things to the right of the lamp in the canopy might be fuses.
Molo di Palazzo Ducale (San Marco) A dayburner- the whole row had just come on. Lamp is Osram 50W HQL Super Deluxe merc. Fixture is Ghisamestieri Venezia. You can see the etch clearly in the fullsize pic. The 2 round things to the right of the lamp in the canopy might be fuses.
Molo di Palazzo Ducale (San Marco)
Not sure what's going on here!
Molo di Palazzo Ducale (San Marco)
..showing those double arm 3 fixture poles that seems to be the standard installation for a pole mount near the water. Fixtures are Ghisamestieri Venezia.
Molo di Palazzo Ducale (San Marco)
The purple tinge to the glass might suggest very old neodymium glass panels, but they are vary rare these days.
The purple tinge to the glass might suggest very old neodymium glass panels, but they are vary rare these days.
Molo di Palazzo Ducale (San Marco)
Marzaria de l'Orologico (Venice)
There are a few of this type of fixture round the back of Piazza San Marco- they seem to be the other sort of only two types of wall mount fixture that exist now. They seem to have been refurbished, and use a HQL-B merc lamp like the open bottom fixtures.
This sort of arm with a graceful downsweep was quite rare, by far the most common type was the straight ones of various lenghts.
A straight arm and the most common type of luminaire, Ghisamestieri Crotone. New, or refurbished, genuine patina or not, it really wasn't clear!
A straight arm and the most common type of luminaire, Ghisamestieri Crotone. New, or refurbished, genuine patina or not, it really wasn't clear!
Campo S. Geremia (Venice)
Campo S. Geremia (Venice)
Close up of another sort of 3 fixture pole mount type, Ghisamestieri Venezia, 3x80W mercury.
Campo S. Geremia (Venice)
There are one or two of this type of wall mounted fixture around, they're not all that common though. (80W merc)
Campo S. Geremia (Venice)
80W merc.
Campo S. Geremia (Venice)
80W merc.
Campo S. Geremia (Venice)
80W merc.
Rio de Cannaregio, Guglie waterbus stop. (Venice) All the lit fixtures
are 80W merc, the colour balance on the camera is wrong.
Update
Nov 2017: Information kindly provided by Franco Gobbo reveals some
lights we were not aware of at the time. If you get the fullsize
picture above, and look at each end under the roofline of the waterbus
stop on the right, you will just about see a bulkhead fixture on each
end. These are actually LPS (SOX), 18W probably, and are manually
switched on in the event of fog.
Rio de Cannaregio, Guglie waterbus stop. (Venice)
Rio de Cannaregio, looking south from Pte.Guglie. (Venice)
Somewhere off Rio Tera S. Leonardo (Venice)- the fixture ID says 'CN'= Cannaregio subdivision.
Somewhere off Rio Tera S. Leonardo (Venice)
Rio Tera S. Leonardo (Venice)
Fixture ID says 'CN' - Cannaregio
Lights on Riva del Vin, looking from Pte. Rialto. 80W merc and 400W HQI. Same shot as daytime one from earlier in sequence.
Somewhere around Calle Orologico (San Marco)
These are the older looking maybe refurbished fixtures, maybe with Holophane glass?
Somewhere around Calle Orologico (San Marco)
These are the older looking maybe refurbished fixtures, maybe with Holophane glass?
Arcade of the Biblioteca Marciana (San Marco) Venice.
Single fixtures still CFL as of 2018, the rest changed to LED 2011-2013
Piazzetta San Marco (Venice). The smaller single head fixtures are CFL.
Piazzetta San Marco (Venice). The smaller single head fixtures are CFL.
Molo San Marco (Venice). Note the difference between the Super Deluxwe mercs in the 3 head fixture, and the background.
Possibly Campo San Felice (Venice)
Ponte de le Bande (Castello) Venice
- as per mark on fixture arm- 'CS'
RemovedChecked on "as of" date (either in person or via latest GSV available), removal happened as late as that date or before
as of Aug 2013
Ponte Foscari, Dorsoduro, looking west. These suspended fixtures are the only ones of this type I saw in the whole city- unusual as they are utilitarian, not decorative or architectural. The catenary is actually across Rio de Ca' Foscari, they are lighting the waterway.
The traffic light away in the distance wasn't working. According to GSV, the lefthand one was missing in April 2013, and by August 2013 they were both gone. The brackets on the buildings at each side of the canal that used to hold the catenary wire can still be seen however.
Ponte Foscari, Dorsoduro, looking west. A slightly wider shot showing the area of Rio de Ca' Foscari below the catenary. We saw several 2 and 3 light traffic lights
around the waterways of Venice, the boat traffic didn't seem to pay much attention to the ones that were working though.
Calle Foscari, near Ponte Foscari, Dorsoduro. An unusual sight, a light on a pole with arm- most being mounted to buildings round here.
SurvivingChecked on "as of" date (either in person or via latest GSV available), so can be assumed to be surviving at least as far as that date
as of 2013 light source changed to LED
Calle Foscari, near Ponte Foscari, Dorsoduro.
A close up of the new fixture (Ghisamestieri Crotone) on the old repainted arm. Since the LED refit in 2013, one of the old cable entries is now used.
Calle larga Foscari, Dorsoduro
There are some of this carriage-type fixture near the water, on wooden poles, but note still the Super Deluxe lamp (80W)
The red light is a bulkhead fitting on the building works.
This was one of the only unrestored arms I found. Wonder if this is a private one too...
This is the standard passageway light, installed where there's no room otherwise. 80W merc (HQL-B).
The only other unrestored, unused arm I saw. This one looks like a city one though.
I would have thought a tunnel type fixture would be here (see before) but there was just enough room to put a 'standard' fixture in. (San Marco subdivision)
I would have thought a tunnel type fixture would be here (see before) but there was just enough room to put a 'standard' fixture in. (San Marco subdivision). From the closeup there looks to have been a fixture there before the refurb.
