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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. The town rests in an area originally shared by plains, savanna and desert biomes, facing also an ocean.
| Focegrossa | |
|---|---|
 From top to bottom, and left to right: Duomo di Focegrossa, Basilica di Santa Maria al Mare, Politecnico di Focegrossa, Farini Square, 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) |
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.
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. Additionally, a central part of Focegrossa lays over a ravine cliff.
Security
Focegrossa is, in overall, one of the safest settlements in the 1.14 Survival World, thanks to its care with public lighting, the build density and its urban layout. The central neighborhoods of Martesanese and Windkant enjoy an almost zero presence of land malicious mobs, making them safe to stay out at night. In the same way, Pillager squads have never been seen close to the town center in many time.
The main safety concerns in Focegrossa are streets and buildings close to the town ends, which lack of a torch lighted perimeter, as well as tridents thrown by Drowned mobs along the coast line path. In addition, there is not any mechanism or mob to avoid Phantoms attacking players.
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. Thanks to the height and central location of the building, it works as a guide for newcomers to indicate always where is the town center.
Central Railway Station
The Central Railway Station was, 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 5 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.
Darsena
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The Darsena dei Pommi is a naturally generated lake, where a man-made coral reef was built. The lake is surrounded by residential buildings and is crossed by Ticino street through a bridge. With the development of the area, the lake has become one of the main tourist attractions of the town.
Kaapberg
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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. With enough chunk render distance, players are able to see both Focegrossa City Tower and Bruhville's castle from the same point in the top of 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.
Politecnico di Focegrossa
Politecnico di Focegrossa is a university building, built between Bogotá Avenue and Sempione Garden. The general layout of the building is based on the facade of the main building of the Politecnico di Milano.
Other landmarks
Other important buildings and landmarks of Focegrossa are the City Public Library, the Waterkloof Winery, the Noordbaai Pier, the Monumental Cemetery, the City Council, San Filippo fort, the City Lighthouse, the Groote Kerk, the Galleria Gioia, the Politecnico and the area around Farini Square (See photo gallery below).
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, as well as Noordbaai Pier.
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.
Capocittà
This area includes buildings around Duomo square, such as the Cathedral, the Town hall, or the City Museum.
Niguarda
This part of the town was considered the most dangerous and less attractive, in part thanks to its industrial buildings, the elevated railways that converge upon arrival at Central Railway Station blocking sunlight and perspective, and empty terrains. In the last months, the area has improved significantly with the growth of the city.
Beyerspoort
This region is developing north of Noordbaai pier, inspired in small coastal towns and suburbs of the Cape of Good Hope. The satellite railway station Focegrossa Voortrekkers is projected to be built in this new area.
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 6 additional lines that connect Focegrossa Centrale with other destinations.
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.
Metropolitana ('SubIce')
In view of the growth of the city and the increasing time to move to the newer neighborhoods, in March 2020, the Metropolitana, an urban transport system that consists of ice underground tracks, entered service with its first line and 3 stations, from west to east. Currently, a second line is being built, while a third line is projected to connect southwestern Focegrossa with the northern side.
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.
Photo Gallery
Monumental Cemetery
View of Nelson Mandela Street with the Duomo in the background
View of Focegrossa and Seveso river to the west
View towards the east. The lighthouse and Stellenbosch Park are visible
View of Manzoni Street
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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 twice 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.