The Art Newspaper

DAVID, FEATHERSTON NEW ZEALAND

What an appropriate name for the bridge - and exactly how I feel after reading this story.

WIDDUP COUBAGY, ACCRA

This is revolting. The same thing is happening in Ghana where even coconut trees are being criminally defaced with colors and logos of companies. This must stop i.

DON, TORONTO

This is disgusting. First they're advertising all over our cities, then they work their way into our living rooms through our televisions, now they're hiding monuments. Wouldn't be surprised if they place advertisements next to the Mona Lisa.

JUDY, ROME, ITALY

Readers of this article are quickly offering judgments without solutions. Venice costs a fortune to maintain, and fortunately most everyone seems to agree this must happen. The issue is therefore how to raise the necessary funds in order to productively preserve buildings, and a sense of their presence while under scaffolding. Scaffolding over cultural icons has been a reality generations of tourists have dealt with. A more elegant blend of the patron's logo and the facsimile of the facade under restoration should be sought. However, I am concerned that in expressing condemnation for this solution, no one is commenting on what else detracts - perhaps in an even more egregious manner - from the beauty of Venice: monstrous cruise ships on the Grand Canal, hundred's of street vendors blocking tourist passage with offensive trinkets, a love of pigeons that borders on the perverse, too many tourists, etc. I find these more offensive than a questionable blend of contemporary and classical.

JERRY JACOBS, SAN FRANCISCO

Obviously it must be corruption. A whole bunch of idiots with no brains is the only capable source of such advertising. I think we should also boycott the advertisers. If some one lets you commit a crime and you commit it you are guilty not only who let you do it. I will not buy from anyone that advertises over the most beautiful architecture, making it look as crappy as its products.So no Guess, No Bulgari, Nor will I go back to Venice until this corruption issue is solved. Once we all do the same they will probably hang them all.

PAULINE PETERS, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

We spent 2 weeks in Venice in September 2010. I must admit I was shocked by the Guess and Bvlgari awnings in St Mark's Square. The Coke ad must have just gone up, along with the lighting as this was not present in Sept.However, I would not let this crass advertising stop tourists from taking in the splendour of Venice. We had a marvellous time staying in an apartment and living as the Venetians. Viva Venezia !!

MARTHA, MIDWEST, USA

My husband and I were heartbroken to see these ads defacing the beauty of Venice when we visited. We spoke about how sad it was to others upon our return. We will not reccommend Venice as a destination unless Italy changes this increasingly invasive problem. This, too, is heartbreaking as Venice should be seen and loved by all.

SUZANNE QUIGLEY, SALT POINT, NY

Outrageous - this turn of events - the Doges palace looks monstrous. I will not buy any Coke, Tournai or Bulgari product until these ads are only a memory of a bad idea. Why on earth would these companies think this type of ad is a good idea and will generate interest n their products? Put their ads on the vaparetto busses instead! Sadly the Venetians barely live there anymore so who would protest?? So few local owners in the shops - mostly masks and other tourist items made in China - the shops staffed by foreign labor. Venice - a place like no other on this globe - is like every other place on this globe - spare us this one cultural experience. The city should protest, the government should put a stop to it.

CLAUDIA G. PERLES, RIVERSIDE CA, USA

It is a shame that BIG companies like those or others that are following don't have respect to anything at list have a better taste in the publicity and make them more a'doc to the City Architecture and Art, In my opinion the Venetians should have an open forum where the can vote and decide where those terrible adds should be post, or never have them, Did they ask to the Venetians?? this City is Beautiful is a Heritage to the World the UNESCO should say something, this has to be stop later we will see the gondolas like yellow cabs from New York and singing american rock with their clothes full of publicity it is a shame!!! I am sad and angry, stop this shame to the humanity!! Respect the city!! "If the walls could talk "

BARBARA SHAPIRO, NEW YORK

Having been to Venice several times in the past 10 years, I was shocked last fall to visit for the Biennale (my first time) and find it covered with huge billboards, bigger and more intrusive than those China created for its Olympics campaign. The Bridge of Sighs is literally surrounded by Geox billboards. This outrage is not about damage to the buildings (the scaffolding comment above).With this treatment, imagining the experience of the prisoners on their way to their deaths, that makes this an iconic structure, is lost. The rest of the "sellout" is equally shocking & ruins the majesty that is St. Mark's Sq. Venice could specify parameters to make any such marketing tasteful and in support of Venice, not in support of product placement. So sad!

EDWARD HARKINS, GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, U.K.

This summer we went on a day trip to Venice. My wife had longed to visit it. I also wanted to see the original Doge’s Palace – because industrial philanthropists of Victorian Glasgow had built a replica edifice in Glasgow that stands to this day. Imagine our horror, approaching Venice in much anticipation over the lagoon to find a quarter or so of the Doge’s draped from pavement to roof-top and around the gable, in hoardings advertising ‘Italy Toy Watches’! The example of the vandalism to the Rialto Bridge shown here says more. Corporate stupidity, arrogance, vandalism and despoliation come to mind. Some corporate suites need to join one of the visiting tourist parties and learn of the deeply negative publicity generated for their companies by these acts of cultural philistinism. To the mayor of Venice - we and our friends won’t be back to this kind of Venice. To others - to see the Doge’s in some of its replicated but untarnished glory – come to Glasgow!

TANYA TELFORD, LONDON

ive just tweeted about this, (a real shame as it is),

MARK, TUCSON

I think this is an awsome idea. Perhaps all building can be covered by billboards and how about the houses also. Another good idea would be to put ads on boats and cars and on the roads and sidewalks. This could be the start of a new era one where all of Venice

KEVIN, SAN DIEGO CA

Since it is on the scaffolding I really don't see the problem.

NLHARTMANN, NEW YORK

What a terrible choice. Either drown or be plastered over with propaganda from Coca Cola. Sad.

ANDREA CALVI, INZAGO, ITALY

I think that companies as Coca-Cola, Bulgari and other major investors should think that their own image could be damaged if they hide some masterpieces of world's architecture with their huge advertisements. They invest their money in a good cause, the restoration of famous buildings, but they should find a better way to balance the great visibility of their brand with the respect for some of the best creations of humankind.

A. DEANGELIS, CORAL GABLES FLORIDA USA

Abominations such as these ghastly advertisements are yet another indication that Venice is no longer a real city of any era. Obviously the Venetians themselves don't care either, for if they did they would be forming protective barriers around their building, monuments, and calli--or at least voting the grasping functionaries out of office.