10308 Electric Billboards for St Marks Square

Taken from today's Daily Telegraph what a bad idea.

The plan, which would give one of the world's greatest tourist destinations a look more reminiscent of New York's Times Square or London's Piccadilly Circus, is being considered as a way to raise much-needed funds for the Italian city's restoration.

The Basilica and the Campanile - the 325 ft bell tower - will have to compete for visitors' attention with five temporary 250 sq metre flashing screens.

Talks are underway between the city council, cultural authorities and two companies who are carrying out a six-year restoration project on the facades of buildings on the square. The screens would be positioned on the facades to hide the work taking place behind them.

Advertising hoardings are banned from all buildings on the square. But one official said: "Needs must and it would be a minor evil. Remember money is short and Venice is falling apart.

"Nothing has been agreed formally but there is a way round the bylaws which would allow us to install the advertising screens which would allow the possibility of raising much needed money to pay for restoration.

"The subject material of the advertising on the screens would be carefully considered and proposals would be submitted and then considered before being given the go ahead. We can't have just anything promoted on St Mark's Square.''

Restoration work, which has been planned since the 1950s, is needed on the Marciana Library, the Mint and the Napoleonic Wing of the Procuraties, home to dozens of cafes and bars.

Massimo Cacciari, the mayor of Venice, said: "It is neither ugly nor beautiful but simply necessary. We are forced to move in this way because we have limited resources.

"We need to take care of the buildings and monuments that make up the artistic beauty of Venice but to do so we need a hand and the city's cultural authorities are thinking well if they are looking for sponsors on advertising screens.

"It is not a question of deciding whether the screens are ugly or beautiful but to recognise the fact that they are needed, even in St Mark's Square.''

Last week the centre-Left mayor also defended the building of a controversial £4 million steel and glass bridge over the Grand Canal which has been described as a waste of money by opposition politicians.

The restoration work in St Mark's Square is being carried out by a Maltese firm, Remedia Limited, and the Italian company Gerso Srl.

However the plan for advertising screens has provoked controversy. Philippe Daverio, a leading art critic, said: "It is a perverse plan - they will prolong the works just so they can profit from the advertising screens.

"Twelve years ago there was a similar scheme in Milan on the facade of the Cathedral during restoration works and we campaigned to have them removed and eventually they were."