In 1827 François Jacques de Larderel, a Frenchman living in Livorno since 1799, pioneered a way of extracting boric acid from the volcanic mud, using only natural steam in the separating process. A decade later Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany and an enthusiastic supporter of Larderel's work, awarded him the title of Count of Montecerboli. The town, since 1846 renamed Larderello, became one of the first places in the world where geothermal energy was exploited to support industry.
The “Palazzo de Larderel” is the most imposing and magnificent palace built in Livorno in the 19th Century.
In 1832 the first “palazzina” was built in “Via dei Condotti Nuovi”, now “Via de Larderel”, by Riccardo Calocchieri. The wings were added later to the original building by Gaetano Gherardi and a new facade, unifying the various structures, was built around 1850 by Ferdinando Magagnini.
The large triangular gable dominating the facade frames the coat of arms of the De Larderel family with allegories of mechanics, agriculture and commerce.
Today the building is the seat of the local Civil Law Courts.See also: “Steaming Forward”, Time, June 16, 2003
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