Pisa bans penis-themed Leaning Tower trinkets

[Kennah]

Source: MSNBC

More than a million people visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa each year. Some climb it. Others get their picture taken "propping up" the 800-year old slumping building. And, according to Pisa’s mayor, far too many shops around the Tuscan treasure sell erotic-themed souvenirs featuring the tower, Michelangelo’s "David" and other attractions.

The novelty items show up everywhere. In an episode of this season's "Jersey Shore," for example, Deena Cortese was featured wearing an apron showing all of Michelangelo's David.

Now, vendors in Pisa caught selling erotic souvenirs such as underwear with the famous tower posed as a penis and aprons highlighting David's genitalia can face fines of up to $700, the Daily Mail reports.

Mayor Marco Filippeschi calls the souvenirs "trashy" and "not the image of the city we want to cultivate," he said, adding: "This material is offensive to public decorum and should be banned from souvenir stalls — people with young families should not have to see these shocking items."


Read more: http://overheadbin.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/08/08/7305140-pisa-bans-penis-themed-leaning-tower-trinkets

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Are they worried the tower might not appear quite as virile as the trinkets?

[Liberal_in_LA]

1. a poster with a photo that emphasized David's "parts" was sold during my college years...1980s.

n/t

[bemildred]

2. Flagrant gender bias. nt

[sofa king]

3. Pisa's banning ALL Leaning Tower trinkets??

Because I defy someone to depict that particular object in such a way that it is NOT penis-themed.

[Kennah]

4. I think it's common in a lot of societies to erect penis shaped edifices

Friend of mine pointed out to me years ago that the U.S. built a complete penis and testicles--Washington Monument, Capitol Dome, Jefferson Memorial.

We're the U.S. and we have a big dick and balls!

[CTyankee]

5. I saw the apron on my trip to Florence last September. I also saw it in 08

in Northern Italy. And in Rome in 06.

I'm not crazy about these items but I don't care if they are sold. What totally appalled me was the cheap religious junk sold in the streets in Assisi. Monks were selling candles they blessed right there in the Basilica! I thought that was pretty trashy, but hey, it's their Basilica...kinda funny when you remember what St. Francis was all about. I came away with a negative attitude about Assisi...

Oh, it was in Assisi that I had a waitress slap down il conto on our table while we were still eating lunch. That is the first and only time I experienced that in Italy...

[dtexdem]

6. Then Pisa better put Viagra in their pizza.

Don't want anything confused with the leaning tower. ;-)

Which reminds me about the dentist:

The female dentist pulls out a numbing needle to give the man a shot.
"No way! No needles. I hate needles" the patient said.

The dentist starts to hook up the nitrous oxide and the man objects.
"I can't do the gas thing. The thought of having the gas mask on suffocates me!"

The dentist then asks the patient if he has any objection to taking a pill.
"No objection," the patient says. "I'm with pills."The exasperated dentist then returns and says. "Here's a Viagra." The patient says, "Wow! I didn't know Viagra worked as a pain killer!" "It doesn't" says the Dentist, "but it's going to give you something to hold on to when I pull your tooth."

[Kennah]

7. Another guy goes in to see a male dentist

Dentist is about give the guy a shot when the guy grabs the dentist by the testicles and says, "This won't hurt a bit, right?"

[LeftinOH]

8. Tacky souvenirs are fun, like this these:

of course, they couldn't really be worn outside of one's own yard.

[lumberjack_jeff]

9. Those guys are no fun

Vacation in Japan instead.