In this photo: Bridge of Signs covered with Bulgari advertising - Photo by: Susan Rosen

If you are heading for Venice we are sorry to tell you that the Bridge of Sighs is practically invisible at the moment for it is covered with Bulgari advertising.

The east side of the Doge’s Palace and the Old Prison are due to be restored and we understand that, as part of a deal between the City’s Monuments and Fine Arts Service and an advertising agency, it was agreed that advertisements could appear on the Bridge as well.

The Bridge of Sighs, named by Byron, was the last view of Venice that condemned prisoners saw as they were taken to jail. Today tourists wishing to admire the Bridge will be sighing for different reasons.

We cannot find any coverage of this in the Italian press but the following blogs have it:
Susan Rosen pics
Paolo Steffan Blog
Arttrav.com

Italian law allows advertising on the scaffolding of public buildings undergoing restoration provided it does not “detract from the appearance, decorum or public enjoyment of the building” so it is hard to understand how the covering of the Bridge with advertising can be justified.
The completion date for restoration work in the Piazza San Marco is 2014.

Do you think that a company sponsoring restoration work has a right to advertise in this way or should they be more subtle about it?

Have you seen the Bridge of Sighs?