Graffiti in Italy

I expect an Italian visiting Detroit might have a similar complaint.

Those were my thoughts, too. But, when a driver drove us from our Athens hotel to the airport (last October), I mentioned to him that I felt that all the graffiti was a shame and he told me something very interesting. He said that there, it was mostly about sports teams -- one community's vs another's, so the locals don't really mind it. He said it wasn't the same as gang-related "tagging" that is found in North American graffiti.

I hope what he told me is true, because it immediately made me feel less put off by it. I couldn't tell by reading it as, of course, it was "all Greek to me"!

cheers,
Vivian

It definitely is much more common in Italy than in the US. It appears there is no real effort to clean it, since I never recall seeing "fresh" graffiti.
On my first trip to Italy it bothered me or at least assumed an area with graffiti would not be a safe place to be walking late at night, now I never notice it anymore and have found all touristy areas within Italy I have been to be extremely safe.

It seems more accepted and not the eyesore we consider it. Moreso it is important to not have an opinion about an area's safety based on seeing Graffiti in Italy.

I think it's just part of the urban fabric, not unlike the millions of stray cats in Istanbul are an accepted part of the urban fabric. People coexist with graffiti because it has been around for ages in some form or another. Also, it doesn't seem that they subscribe to the Broken Windows Theory (nor has it been borne out in terms of higher crimes in graffiti-laden areas). I doubt it has any connotations with violent urban gangs marking territory, like it does in the US. And practically speaking, they may not have the resources or will to constantly paint over it. I'd be curious to know what they thought of it since they live with it every day, whereas we are just temporary visitors.

My take is to try not to be bothered by it. Sort of like not throwing stones at glass houses and taking care of your own back yard before complaining about others. A visitor to the US would likely ask a bunch of justifiable "what's up with x, y, z?" questions too about what we tolerate or live with. I have to confess that I love taking photos of all sorts of murals in various cities around the world, which are technically well-developed forms of graffiti. Many are very creative, colorful, and have clear political messages.

Examples of graffiti exist from ancient Rome, long before spray paint existed, so maybe it's more ingrained in the social fabric of that area.

One thing that's widespread in Europe but not so much in the USA is the metal pull-down storefront covers that essentially seal-off businesses when they're closed. Lots of them are covered with graffiti, but you'd never know it when the shop is open and the cover is rolled up.

Examples of graffiti exist from ancient Rome, long before spray paint
existed

Absolutely true. In fact, it's all over Pompeii and some of it is hilarious. Here's a translated list of a bunch of it but I'll warn you in advance not to peek if you're easily offended by bawdy language? Let's just say that what's scrawled on some public bathroom walls today isn't much different than it was 2,000 years ago!

http://www.pompeiana.org/Resources/Ancient/Graffiti%20from%20Pompeii.htm

The Italians invented Graffiti. The original Italian word is "Sgraffito", it originated in northern Italy and it was the art of drawing pictures on the outside of your house. Buildings with Sgraffito are tourist attractions. Photo: http://c8.alamy.com/comp/AM1NFP/adam-and-eve-in-the-garden-of-eden-sgraffito-outdoor-wall-painting-AM1NFP.jpg

My opinion is to not expect places away from "home" to look like "home", or any other place - every place has some commonalities and some differences. It's part of the urban landscape.

In Roma, this graffiti tradition goes back over 2000 years, as others have said. Originally it was political or social commentary painted on walls or hung on placards on sculptures - a pre-techno-era tweet, as it were.

Most current graffiti has to do with sports teams, and the love-lorn lamenting their losses. Also making a statement against social injustice (or for it, less often).

Some of it is quite sweet.

Oh, and Norma, note that the OP is in Suburban Detroit.

I did note the "suburban", actually. As there is probably little or no graffiti in Suburban Detroit, suburban Rome probably has little as well, but who wants to go to a Roman suburb to sightsee.

The problem in Italy is also related to a shortage of funds that would be needed to stay on top of removing all the graffiti. I've gotten to the point now, after five trips to Italy, that I don't even notice it unless it's something really unusual.

And here's a factoid: The Italian word "graffiti" is used in Italy only to refer to drawings. If you're talking about words that were written, then it's called "scritte" which means writing.

It is pure vandalism.

It has nothing to do with tradition, history, or local customs. If it were the case, it wouldn't be illegal. But illegal it is.

Art. 639 of the Italian Penal Code provides for a fine from 300 to 1000 euro or a jail term from 1 to 6 months to those who place graffiti on a building or on public or private means of transport (buses, cars, trains). The penalty is even greater (up to 3000 euro or 1 yr in jail) if committed on a building of historical or artistic significance. And it's even more severe in case of recidivism (up to 10,000 euro or up to 2 years in jail).

The problem is that nobody in Italy is punished for anything but for the most heinous violent crimes. Everybody else gets just a slap on the wrists, if that. And forget about jail terms. You really have to have committed a violent crime to even be considered for that. I don't even know why the article above even mentions jail terms when everybody knows that you'll never go to jail for something like that.

So, failure of enforcement of the law is why there are plenty of graffiti in Italy (and plenty of pickpockets as well).

Regarding removal of graffiti, like it is routinely done in American cities, Michael hit the nail in the head: graffiti gets low priority due to lack of funding to local governments. So if you want to lend a hand and see a cleaner Italy, make an effort to drive as much as possible inside ZTL areas, and pay the fines afterwards. Maybe some of those proceeds can be used for some fresh paint.

It depends on the attitude of the local administration. In Florence graffiti are mostly removed in a short time so they are not a big problem. In Milan the municipal administration simply does not care, and in a few years everything is written up.

As much as I hate graffiti, I would say that the city that has a real graffiti problem is Sao Paulo in Brazil. There, you can find graffiti up to the 10th floor.

In Italian literally "graffito" is a picture obtained by covering a surface with a coat of paint and scratching (graffiare) it. Michael is correct in saying that the Italian word is "scritte".

I well remember many years ago arriving in Venice by train, with my new husband, so excited and gleeful, and seeing from the train window written on a wall the words "Elvis Lives". It was a deflating moment.

Norma, actually suburan Rome, where my family lives, has quite a lot of graffiti and Detroit has comparatively little. I have spoken to my cousins about it and they were at a loss. It has always just been a part of their lives.

And I am not saying all the graffiti is bad, some of it has become an art form. It just seems as if it's everywhere. It especially made me sad in Naples ti aee it in fountains and monuments.

We live right next to a beautiful and historic church, San Lorenzo, which I believe is the oldest Franciscan church in the world (built 1280-1300) and there's graffiti all over it. Just breaks my heart every time I see it.

Even though it has been around for centuries, I have no appreciation for this form of art. If someone can figure out a way to control rebellious youth, or simply rebellious people, perhaps it could be the end of this eyesore. I won't be holding my breath.

Graffiti in the Italia meaning, can be artistic and nice if in the right place, but le scritte, or writings, are never beautiful, although some are funny.

Keep in mind that there are cultural and enforcement differences. In many locations in the US the removal of graffiti is the building owner's responsibility. So if I am hit I only have 48 hours to get if off private property or face a fine. In many parts of the US, the approach to dealing with graffiti is to removed it quickly especially on private property. Public property is similar but may be slower in removing.

Amazing, but decades ago, the USA was the graffiti king of the World. We lived in Germany from 87-91 and traveled a lot in Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria and Italy. Graffiti was just not done in Germany, Austria or Switzerland and not very common in France or Italy.

After retiring in 2010, dear wife and I have traveled to Europe every year, sometimes more than once and have been amazed and disgusted by the amount of graffiti in Europe, particularly in Italy and France. Even Germany has graffiti. Germans are keen on having their cities clean and tidy and it just amazes me what has happened.

Paris has graffiti all over and seeing it in Venice and Florence on ancient building was sick.

In the USA, I do see some graffiti, although more in the inner cites, but not nearly as bad at it one was.

I worked three years for a law enforcement Federal Agency and most cops will tell you there is a definite correlation between graffiti and gang activity.

I don't view this change in Europe as a good sign.