Restoration of Monuments in Italy

These monuments deserve restoration and if  preservation is done in time, like the one above, the monuments live  longer and are an asset to the mankind. Rightly said that these monuments do not belong only to the Romans or the Italians, they belong to the entire western world  because a large part of western civilization started here. A few months ago the Italian culture Minister announced tax deduction to encourage private sector donations for the restoration and preservation of museums, heritage sites, and archives. Deigo Della Vella the founder of Tod's donated $34 million for the restoration and improvement of the Colosseum. Tod's logo can be seen around the Colossuem, on the scaffolding and on the admission tickets to the 2000 years old monument. There was criticism that the Tod group has been gaining great publicity from these repairs and the longer it takes, the more of the publicity is gained for the "Tods" 

When we visited Rome this June (2014), we could not see many heritage sites like the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain or the Spanish steps as many of them were under restoration and covered by scaffolds or plexiglass.

There are  innumerable heritage and  other  sites in Rome and elsewhere in Italy ranging from museums, archives,  to countryside churches which need restoration and the Italian Govt. besides doing something on their own is keeping the doors open to philanthropists and donors to add their name to the Italian  monuments. A couple of Luxury groups and corporate world are joining the ranks to restore the ancient glory of Rome and Italy so that the hordes of tourists who come from the world over do not return unhappy. 

This is the picture of world renowned Trevi fountain.

The Trevi fountain is a imposing fountain that served as a display of an ancient roman acqua duct system

The  acqueduct is the Virgo - Virgin in English - Acqueduct constructed by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa around 19 B:C: Agrippa was the son-in-law and the favorite general of Emperor Octavian Augustus. The acqueduct was 21 km long but 19 were underground.

The fountain is 26,30 m high (85.28 feet, 118 roman palms), 49,15 large (160.72 feet, 220 roman palms). Every day it spills 80.000 cubic meter of water (2,824,800 cubic feet).

The Trevi is now being restored with the help of Fendi a fashion Brand of Italy which has contributed $ 4 million.

These are the pictures of Spanish Steps.They are a set of steps (136 in all) located between Piazza di Spagnna and Piazza Trinita dei Monti. The first few steps cover the drainage system. They were built  with the bequeathed funds of French Displomat Etienne Gueffier and were completed in 1775.They were made famous in the 1953 movie "Roman Holiday'starring Gregory Peck ands Audrey Hepburn.
The Steps needed restoration and the Italian Govt. facing stagnant economy and mounting public debt was unable to do anything but in came the help from the 135 year old jewellery giant Bulgari which donated  1.5 million Euros to clear the staircase from undergrowing weeds and plants  and refurbish it.

Shown in the background is the Rialto bridge in Venice (Italy) a landmark bridge of the City of Venice. While some groups like "Save Venice Inc." have footed the bills for repairs of various monuments in Venice, Renzo Rosso, the founder of brand "Diesel" pledged 5 million Euros for repairs of this famous bridge. This picture was taken by me in 2010 when we lived in the Rialto Hotel which is located just touching the bridge. 

The restoration of the monuments from the money from philanthropists and business houses has been an eye sore to some historians, writers of art history and the Italian public. While the business houses have claimed that they are supporting these projects out of their love for art,national pride and giving back something to their land of birth, the people feel that these monuments are sacred and should not be used for commercial advancement by the donors . A unique case of criticism was holding of a dinner by Morgan Stanley in a 14th century chapel in Florence for a rent of $54,000. It is not known that a deal proposed by Saudi Arabia to create a special fund for the restoration of art in Italy has been finalized or not.It has been felt that though money may be accepted for such projects, there should be people's trust to manage and oversee the management of such monuments which are dear to the core of the Italian living. It has been accepted by the Govt. and the people of Italy that many monuments like Pompeii,the Mausoleum of Augustus which if not repaired would become like open wounds and eye sores. A lot of money is required and it is through these donors and business houses only, that it can become like a free flow (of funds).