The new Medicis step in to save Italy's heritage
 

Many of us who have travelled to Italy for decades have been dismayed at the deterioration of its cultural monuments, both ancient and not so ancient, in recent years. But there's good news! A group of wealthy business moguls are supporting projects, and encouraging others to join them, in preservation of the places and culture that make Italy Italy.

http://www.newsweek.com/2011/07/17/i...crumbling.html

Thanks Jean, very interesting article!

It will indeed be refreshing if they refrain from plastering their adverts across the buildings, as seen in Venice.

This is such a good news for Italy and also for the tourists. It's a noble thing to help preserve the culture and history of a place. It's also rewarding to those who come and visit the place. It would gain the place more attention when it comes to tourism.

when i was at a language school in southern tuscany in May, we were taken to a number of Roman sites where there was no restoration or security at all. our teacher [who had been a tour guide for many years] told us that there was insufficient money to restore the hundreds of sites that are found all across the country, and that they found that when they tried to fence places off that it just attracted vandals and thieves.

so the best thing to do was just to leave them and hope that no-one would notice!

Good article.

Note, "special" leather driving shoes designed for use with one's Ferarri. Think they'll add pep to my aging Honda if I buy a pair ???
(LOL).

Thanks Jean---very interesting.