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Focegrossa
Focegrossa (in Italian: Focegrossa; in Afrikaans: Grootriviermond) is a town in the survival 1.14 world of PCB. It dates since the 28th of July of 2019, when the founder’s cabin was erected. The town is located west from SSpawn, at -760, 710 and was built by Munozdav.
| Focegrossa | |
|---|---|
 From top to bottom, and left to right: Piazza Duomo, Houses in Faretto Bay, Central Railway Station entrance hall, Waterkloof Winery, View of Focegrossa | |
| Information | |
| Founder | Munozdav |
| Date of foundation | 28 July 2019 |
| Major | Munozdav |
| Location | -760, 710 |
| Official Languages | Italian and Afrikaans (English used in key signs) |
The town rests in an area originally shared by plains, savanna and desert biomes, facing also an ocean. The majority of its buildings are partially/loosely inspired in real constructions or styles from northern Italy, the Western Cape province of South Africa and Colombia.
Focegrossa is one of the major towns in the 1.14 survival world, being the only one under continuous and uninterrupted development since the reset in July 2019. Some of the largest buildings in the map are located in the city, such as the Duomo di Focegrossa (Town Cathedral), the Central Railway Station, the Palazzo De Marchi (Town Hall) or Fabbrica Bovisasca. Focegrossa’s railway system, with its hub at the Central Railway Station, is the largest iron railway network in the map in terms of rails placed.
History
The first building in Focegrossa was Munozdav’s cabin, which was followed immediately by the city tower. Both buildings still exist and are located in the center of the town. Munozdav’s cabin still conserves its original wheat crop area as it is considered part of this historic house.
In august 2019, the Central Railway Station of the town entered service with its first destination to SSpawn Station. In the same month, the Food Farm of Focegrossa was built, replacing the small crop area of the founder’s cabin. The Public City Library was also ready by the end of august.
In late September 2019, the construction of the town’s cathedral (Duomo) started, finishing the structure by the end of November 2019. By December, various buildings around Duomo Square, like the town hall, were also created.
Raid
The 21 of August of 2019, Focegrossa was raided by pillagers and vindicators, who murdered one villager, in Della Spiga alley. He was the only villager living in town at the moment.
The city was subject to 2 subsequent raids in November 2019. While the town’s founder (Munozdav) came victorious in the first one, he was defeated in the second one after multiple deaths.
Geography
Focegrossa is located in plains, savanna and desert biomes, and facing the ocean. The city is also divided by a river that flows into the ocean. The Kaapberg, a hill of medium height in the savanna biome, is another important geographical feature that marks the northern end of the town.
Security
Despite the efforts of making Focegrossa a mob-safe settlement, important urban areas have been traditionally affected by zombie, skeleton and creeper presence. The southernmost part of Focegrossa has historically been the most dangerous area. The south side of the Central Railway Station was once considered a critical zone during night due to the numerous presence of monsters in the surroundings. Mobs even spawned inside the station halls and roof, or in Jan van Riebeeck square.
However, with the growth of the town and an improved public lighting program, security in this key area has improved significantly, while the areas around Enrico Fermi, Milano and Della Riva streets, as well as Stellenbosch park, are considered very safe, where mob spawning or appearance are exceedingly rare.
Buildings and Landmarks
City Tower
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One of the oldest and tallest buildings. Mainly made of cobblestone and stone brick blocks. Currently the building is used as a major crafting workshop, with a crafting table, a brewing stand, an anvil and a grindstone. The tower is inspired in Bergamo’s City Tower (Campanone).
In October 2019, the original wooden ladder and the cobblestone pillar that supported it were replaced by a hydraulic elevator, making it around five times faster to reach the top floor of the tower.
Central Railway Station
The Central Railway Station will be, until the completion of the Duomo di Focegrossa, the largest building in town in terms of area. It is mainly built in sandstone, with granite, andesite and diorite floors. The station works as a mobility hub, with 4 active iron rail lines, connection with a boat dock and housing the only Nether Portal in Focegrossa. This building was influenced by Milan’s Central Railway Station.
Duomo di Focegrossa
The town’s cathedral (Duomo) is the largest building in town in terms of area, height and volume, and is one of the largest in the map, taking over two real-life months of almost daily work to be finished. It is also considered a very expensive structure due to the materials used -over 85% of the materials came from a distance of more than 1,000 blocks away from the town, or from the Nether-, like white terracota, glazed terracota, quartz and smooth quartz, nether bricks, dark oak wood and clay. The cathedral was influenced by various temples in Northern Italy, being the Duomo di Siena the one that had more impact in the final building.
Palazzo De Marchi
This building serves as the city’s town hall, and is opened to the public. It contains information about the city, a small library and the largest world map in the city.
City Public Library
The City Public Library houses the city’s only enchanting table. The building is made of stone brick blocks, white concrete and sandstone.
Groote Kerk
This is a church in the northern part of the town, and is loosely inspired in the Monasterio de la Visitación church in Bogota, Colombia.
Kaapberg
The Kaapberg (in english, Cape mountain) is a hill that offers a panoramic view of all the town. It has a paved path to the top. A viewpoint and a small guesthouse can be found up in the hill.
Fabbrica Bovisasca
This industrial building is made almost entirely of clay brick blocks. While it was initially expected to be a simple build to cover a failed experience farm, the structure ended being one of the largest and most highlighted in the town.
Neighborhoods
Martesanese
This is a central neighborhood, considered the safest and best cared for. The City Tower, the Founder’s cabin and the Stellenbosch park are located in the area.
Napels die Nuwe
This neighborhood is located in the southeastern part of town, bordering its natural bay. Its coloured houses and buildings are partly influenced by Ligurian architecture.
Faretto
This area in the north surrounds the town’s lighthouse and includes some houses in Faretto Beach.
Windkant
This neighborhood is recognizable for its white houses and buildings inspired by Cape Dutch architecture. This is mainly an urban area, but some landmarks like the Kaapberg viewpoint or Waterkloof Winery, located in the outskirts, are considered part of Windkant too.
Transport
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The most efficient ways to get to the city are by boat or by iron rail. The town has several boat docks along its sea and river shores, and can be reached from spawn without having to dismount from the boat.
The city can be reached through an iron railway line connecting SSpawn station with Focegrossa Central Station. The town railway network has always been in expansion and currently includes 3 additional lines that connect Focegrossa Centrale with other 4 destinations (stations):
- Belvedere Pavese (-1020, 770)
- Pillager Outpost (-1630, 730)
- Duiwelsoog (-2150, 730)
- Antwoord (-1270, 1040)
It is rumoured, according to some testimonials and evidence, that a boat ice rail runs in the deep undergrounds of Focegrossa. However, these versions are not official and there is no station or clear pathway to go to or come from this supposed ice rail.
Tourism
Thanks to its strategic location, Focegrossa is an ideal stop for travelers and explorers going from Sspawn to the Pillager Outpost in -1650, 750. The city’s iron rail network covers the entire path between these two points, while the town is also a suitable location to rest, spend the night or grab free food from public supermarkets, in their way to the Outpost.
Focegrossa also attracts visitors thanks to its varied architecture and its relative proximity to Sspawn.
Curiosities
- The name ‘Focegrossa’ simplifies the expression ‘Foce Grossa’, which means “great river mouth”, following the actual river mouth that generated in the area. The Afrikaans version of the name, “Grootriviermond”, is a translation of the same name.
- Although the city is easily reachable from Sspawn, it has only been griefed once in its entire existence.
- Despite the size of the great flower garden in Waterkloof Winery, Stellenbosch Park is the only place in town where all the flower varieties of the game (except wither rose) can be found.
- Palazzo De Marchi and Galleria Gioia are named after the 2 real-life streets in Milan, Italy (Via Emilio de Marchi and Via Melchiorre Gioia) that end and start, respectively, just where Munozdav, the town founder, lived during his postgraduate studies.
- The city managed to host a maximum of 3 villagers. When the city was griefed, they all went missing. Miraculously, one of them (who had been cured by Munozdav) appeared later in the third floor of a building in central Focegrossa, only accessible by a wooden ladder. He turned into a successful Master level toolsmith and still enjoys the safety of the place he was found.