Tuscany Tries to Ban Tacky Souvenirs

| Fri, 08/05/2011 - 04:24

Five Tuscan mayors are joining forces to put an end to trashy souvenirs. The deputy mayor of Florence has proposed a meeting with officials from Pisa, San Gimignano, Siena and Pienza to plan a united action against crude keepsakes.

The cities are planning to host a joint summit to fight the sale of items like boxers, mugs, magnets and aprons printed with obscene images.

The sale of tacky souvenirs is not a new problem, but it was a set of boxer shorts that finally pushed officials over the edge.

The underwear in question features the Leaning Tower of Pisa strategically placed in the groin area. Police quickly intervened and levied 500 Euro fines against 5 sellers of the Leaning Tower underwear for displaying “merchandise offensive to public decorum.â€

Florence also has regulations that prohibit the display of products that insult religious beliefs or cultural sensitivities. The bylaw allows them to battle vendors who profit by selling items humorously printed with David’s nude figure.

The impolite mementos are uniting the Tuscan towns, which see their war against trash as a UNESCO mission. Since all the cities involved are considered World Heritage sites, the mayors want to ensure that the cultural integrity of their cities is maintained.

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