What do you think of this?  This article from the Art Newspaper (Nov. 12, 2008) should get you thinking about how we preserve our cities and monuments.  Should advertisers be allowed to post ads on monuments that are covered with scaffolding and under restoration?  Is the money coming in from ads worth the desecration of the monuments?  Is it desecration?  Are these ads recalling Venice’s history as a commercial center?

Here is a recent view (from Flickr) showing the Molo and Sansovino’s work in the Piazzetta that John was discussing the other day.  Remember Whistler’s depiction of the scene?

A link to yet another image that suggests the setting of Venice has become the package for selling fine goods and a lifestyle.