The Encroachment of Advertisement on Public Space

Post date: Sep 30, 2015 1:10:42 PM

the Bridge of Sighs

Venice is a city well known for its beautiful views and historic sites. The architectural wonders that can be found there are one of a kind, and almost every angle has been captured in artwork at least once in the past. For those who visit the city, or those who inhabit it, these sights are one of the biggest appeals of Venice. In 2008, the city of Venice started offering advertisement space for purchase upon the awnings put in place for restoration work.

In the eyes of local conservationists, these signs got out of hand far too fast. One of the locations where advertisement was made available was the Bridge of Sighs, which people began to refer to as the Bridge of Signs. Additionally, the signs are lit at night casting off more light than anything else in their vicinity. Many argue that this is ruining the ambiance of the city's previously dark and quiet demeanor. Since the city is so well known, for its appearance if nothing else, tourists may come and be disappointed to see their preconceived face of Venice be slandered by obtrusive advertisement.

This occurrence can be closely tied in with the problems being encountered by the plateatici. Namely, street shops and stalls are overstepping the boundaries of an under-enforced system and through doing so are becoming a nuisance to the public. The sentiment to support the fix to this problem exists and is strong in Venice, and this will drive us to find the best solution possible